________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hydrogen
weak interfaces - then you can start thinking about ways to counteract it . One strategy is to add elements like tungsten to the mix . Tungsten , when added to steel , segregates to the grain boundaries and strengthens them , essentially providing a protective barrier against hydrogen ’ s effects .
This is where integrated computational materials engineering ( ICME ) comes into play . Using this kind of physics-based digital modeling shows us how materials behave across different scales - from the atomic level to the macro scale - and helps us predict how they ’ ll perform in real-world conditions . It ’ s not trial and error anymore . With ICME , you can simulate how hydrogen will interact with a material before you even make it , saving years of experimentation .
This is how QuesTek Innovations designed Ferrium M54 for the US Navy . Hydrogen embrittlement is a big concern for the jets that ride on aircraft carriers because of the salty , hydrogen-rich environments their landing gear operates in . We were able to see , computationally , where hydrogen would cause problems and design a solution that made the steel tougher and more resistant to embrittlement .
This is just one materials solution for hydrogen-hopeful industries . There are others . For instance , coatings can be developed that will block hydrogen from getting into the material in the first place . By coating the surface of a material with something that repels hydrogen or prevents it from dissociating into atoms , you ’ re already ahead of the game . Another strategy is to add ‘ traps ’ to the material - tiny features in the metal structure that capture hydrogen before it can reach those weak interfaces . These traps act like sponges , soaking up the hydrogen and keeping it from doing damage .
This is all to say that hydrogen embrittlement is a solvable problem . We ’ re not reinventing the wheel , but we are taking a deeper look at the materials we ’ ve been using for decades , figuring out where their weaknesses lie , and making them stronger . This is the kind of innovation that will make hydrogen a viable energy source for the future - not just in theory , but in practice . ■
Jason Sebastian questek . com
Jason Sebastian is Executive Vice President of Market Operations at QuesTek Innovations LLC , a pioneering materials engineering firm that empowers innovators by resolving materials-based challenges . The company ’ s Materials by Design ® technologies , including its groundbreaking ICMD ® Materials Design and Engineering Platform , have enabled new products and new thresholds of performance across a wide range of industries , including aerospace , automotive , and energy .
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