ECCausticEmbrittlementIntergranularSSCLMEMICSCCHBHEHICHHAErosionFrettingStrayCurrentIndex

DifferentTypesofCorrosion
Recognition,Mechanisms&Prevention

HightemperatureHydrogenAttack
(Decarburization)
Recognition
What is hightemperature hydrogen attack? Hightemperature Hydrogen Attack (HHA) refers to the loss of strength
and ductility of steel by hightemperature reaction of absorbed hydrogen with carbides in the steel, resulting in
decarburizationandinternalfissuring.
Hightemperature hydrogen attackisalso referredtoas hothydrogen attack ordecarburization. It occurs incarbon
andlowalloyedsteelsexposedforanextendedperiodtohydrogenunderhighpressureandathightemperature.

Mechanisms
WhatcausesHightemperaturehydrogenattack?
Atomichydrogen(formedincorrosion processesorbydissociationofmolecularhydrogeninagasstreamatthesteel
surface)diffusesintosteel.Atgrainboundaries,crystalimperfections,inclusions,discontinuitiesandotherdefects,the
atomichydrogenreactswiththedissolvedcarbonorwiththemetalcarbides,formingmethane:
8H+C+Fe3C=2CH4+3Fe(eq.1)
Because of the pressure buildup of the methane in the steel, this results in the formation of intergranular cracks,
fissuresandblisters,oftenextendingtothesurfaceofthesteel.Thisformofhydrogendamagesometimesresembles
the lowtemperature hydrogen blistering. Moreover, the decarburization process leads to the loss of carbon in the
steel and hence a reduction in tensile strength and an increase in ductility and creep rate. Interestingly, the reverse
process (Eq.1 above), carburization, can also occur in hydrogenhydrocarbon mixtures such as that encountered in
http://www.corrosionclinic.com/types_of_corrosion/high-temperature%20hydrogen%20attack_decarburization.htm

petroleumrefiningoperations.

Prevention
HowtopreventHightemperaturehydrogenattack?Hightemperaturehydrogenattackcanbepreventedthrough:
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useprotectivecoatings
useaprotectiveatmosphereorundervacuumduringtheheattreatment
reducetheresidencetimeofmetalathightemperaturesinthehydrogenenvironment
annealingthecarburizedmetalinreducinggasmixturescontaininghydrocarbons.

Formoredetails
Moredetailsonhightemperaturehydrogenattackareincludedinthefollowingcorrosioncourseswhichyoucantake
asinhousetrainingcourses,onlinecoursesordistancelearningcourses:
CorrosionandItsPrevention(5daymodule)
CorrosionandItsPrevention(2daymodule)
Corrosion,Metallurgy,FailureAnalysisandPrevention(3days)
MarineCorrosion,CausesandPrevention(2days)
MaterialsSelectionandCorrosion(2days)
StainlessSteelsandAlloys:WhyTheyResistCorrosionandHowTheyFail(2days)
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