Hydrogen degradation of structural steels in technical hydrocarbon liquids

Hydrogen absorption, mechanical testing under different loading mode and electrochemical measurement were done for 0.3C low alloy steels used in the ship engine parts at immersion in the boiler fuel and in the used engine mineral oil at elevated temperatures corresponding to the operating conditions. The hydrogen charging of steels has been found to reach a level causing their plasticity loss. No effect, a plasticity loss and a significant decrease in the number of cycles have been stated in constant load, slow strain rate and fatigue tests, respectively. The results showed the local active plastic deformation proceeded close to the surface of hydrogen ingress to provide the highest possibility for hydrogen induced metal degradation in hydrocarbon environments. Although the source of hydrogen evolved in the case of technical hydrocarbons has been discussed, the promoting effect of formed H2S should be recognized as the important factor influencing the hydrogen charging from those environments. Some variation in the steel microstructure, chemical composition and hardness of steels, even allowed by the standard may affect their susceptibility to hydrogen degradation in hydrocarbons.