Strong resistance to hydrogen embrittlement of high-performance superalloy MP35N under 200 MPa (≈30,000 psi) H2 gas pressure

Abstract

ABSTRACT Embrittlement of steels and alloys in contact with hydrogen gas under pressure is a key problem in metallurgy with important implications for a future energy economy based on hydrogen. Here we report stress–strain measurements recorded under 200 MPa (∼30,000 PSI) hydrogen gas pressure to evaluate the resistance of MP35N to embrittlement. We find that MP35N with a tensile strength of more than 1800 MPa does not suffer any strength loss, retains a significant amount of ductility and hence appears to be highly resistant to hydrogen embrittlement even under elevated stress when exposed over a time-scale of hours. This exceptional resistance to H-embrittlement seems to be unique among all high-performance steels and alloys of comparable strength and bears on the use of this material for high pressure H2 research devices and storage applications.