The effect of absorbed hydrogen on the dissolution of steel

Abstract

Atomic hydrogen (H) was introduced into steel (AISI 1018 mild steel) by controlled cathodic pre-charging. The resultant steel sample, comprising about 1 ppmw diffusible H, and a reference uncharged sample, were studied using atomic emission spectroelectrochemistry (AESEC). AESEC involved potentiodynamic polarisation in a flowing non-passivating electrolyte (0.6 M NaCl, pH 1.95) with real time reconciliation of metal dissolution using on-line inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The presence of absorbed H was shown to significantly increase anodic Fe dissolution, as evidenced by the enhanced detection of Fe2+ ions by ICP-OES. We discuss this important finding in the context of previously proposed mechanisms for H-effects on the corrosion of steels.

Swelling of Steel Film by Hydrogen Absorption at Cathodic Potential in Electrolyte

“…These are—whether they originate from material composition variations, impurities, and specific features from production or processing—generally understood to be the root cause for pitting corrosion . The findings presented here shed new light on reports that hydrogen loading decreases the resistance of SS to pitting corrosion, finally leading to embrittlement …”

Influence of hydrogen on the propagation of intergranular corrosion defects in 2024 aluminium alloy

“…Similarly, the influence of H on the oxygen reduction reaction in a martensitic stainless steel has been shown by Schaller et al [29,30]. For other materials and especially for Ni base alloys, the influence o f H localised at the grain boundaries on the propagation of intergranular cracks has been investigated.…”

“…However, to the author knowledge, except for Lafouresse et al [28] and Schaller et al [29,30], there are very few publications that provide data concerning the influence of H on the electrochemical reactivity of the materials. However, if H is introduced around a corrosion defect and if it can modify the electrochemical reactivity of the material, then it could have an influence on the corrosion defect growth and then on its morphology.…”

Materials and Corrosion Trends in Offshore and Subsea Oil and Gas Production

“…80 Effect of hydrogen on the localized corrosion resistance of CRA Although hydrogen generated by either corrosion or by CP has been shown to deteriorate the protectiveness of passive films, existing EAC models do not take this effect into consideration. Yao et al, 81 Guo et al, 82 Pyun et al, 83,84 Thomas et al, 85 Armacanqui and Oriani, 86 to name a few, have shown that in part due to its strong reducing properties, hydrogen present in the passive film lowers the resistance to pitting corrosion. Yao et al attributed the decrease in localized corrosion resistance of UNS S32205 to a change in the semiconductor properties of the chromium oxide film.…”

“…Similar results were also seen by Thomas et al on CS. 85 Interestingly, anecdotal evidence from recent failure investigations on SDSS seawater pumps seems to confirm the deleterious effect of hydrogen on localized corrosion resistance. In this regard, severe localized corrosion was found after removal of the CP system under conditions a priory benign to SDSS.…”