Application of Nondestructive Technique on Hydrogen Charging Times of Stainless Steel 304L

Embrittlement of material by hydrogen charging should be cleared for safety of storage vessel of hydrogen and components deal with hydrogen. A stainless steel is generally used as materials for hydrogen transportation and storage, and it has a big advantage of corrosion resistance due to nickel component in material. In this study, microscopic damage behavior of stainless steel according to the hydrogen charging time using nondestructive evaluation was studied. The surface of stainless steel became more brittle as the hydrogen charging time increased. The parameters of nondestructive evaluation were also changed with the embrittlement of stainless steel surface by hydrogen charging. Ultrasonic test, which is the most generalized nondestructive technique, was applied to evaluate the relationship between the ultrasonic wave and mechanical properties of stainless steel by hydrogen charging. The attenuation coefficient of ultrasonic wave was increased with hydrogen charging time because of surface embrittlement of stainless steel. In addition, acoustic emission test was also used to study the dynamic behavior of stainless steel experienced hydrogen charging. AE event at the hydrogen charged specimen was obviously decreased at the plastic zone of stress-strain curves, while the number of event for the specimen of hydrogen free was dramatically generated when compared with the specimens underwent hydrogen charging.