Canagrosa leads the way in controlling hydrogen embrittlement in European industry

With unique accreditations in Europe and advanced testing methods, Canagrosa is at the forefront in the detection and prevention of hydrogen embrittlement, a critical phenomenon for structural safety in sectors such as aerospace, energy and marine

In the aerospace industry, controlling hydrogen embrittlement -also known as hydrogen embrittlement- is paramount. This phenomenon occurs when hydrogen is absorbed by steel, altering its mechanical properties and internal structure. The result can be a significant loss of ductility and strength and, in the worst case, unexpected breakage.

At Canagrosa we are well aware that these risks are especially critical in low temperature and high stress conditions, hence our commitment to collaborate with the customer in detecting and preventing the effects of hydrogen embrittlement through methods that combine rigor, technical expertise and regulatory compliance.

Why does hydrogen embrittlement occur?

There are different theories as to how hydrogen causes embrittlement. The most common are:

• Embrittlement: hydrogen interferes with the formation of metallic bonds.
• Intergranular fracture: hydrogen reduces the cohesion between the grains of the material.

In addition, there are several factors that favor the appearance of this phenomenon, such as the mechanical resistance of the steel; surface treatments such as cadmium plating, hard chrome plating, phosphating or zinc-nickel plating; inadequate heat treatments, or extremely corrosive environments.

The importance of control in critical sectors

As noted above, the control of hydrogen embrittlement in the aerospace industry is critical due to the stringent safety, performance and reliability requirements of the materials used in aircraft and space components. If not properly managed, this phenomenon can severely affect the structural integrity of materials and jeopardize the operation of aircraft and space missions.

In addition to the aerospace sector, hydrogen embrittlement is of particular relevance in advanced industries such as Automotive, Energy (piping and components for Oil&Gas and hydrogen storage), Marine (underwater materials, vessels and the Chemical and Petrochemical Industry.

Our technical commitment

In Canagrosa we have extensive experience and technical knowledge in the two reference methods required by major manufacturers of aerostructures for the control and periodic monitoring of hydrogen embrittlement:

1. Electronic measurement according to ASTM F326: also known as electrochemical permeation, it allows the evaluation of processes such as cadmium plating.
2. Sustained or constant load tests, according to ASTM F519 and EN 2832: Steel specimens representative of production batches are subjected to a constant load close to rupture for a prolonged period of time, to observe their behavior under conditions that favor hydrogen absorption and crack development.

Both tests are accredited under the ISO/IEC 17.025 materials testing standard. In fact, Canagrosa is the only laboratory in Europe accredited to perform the electronic measurement test according to ASTM F326.

As for the sustained load test, we have a high operational capacity for its execution in our facilities in Seville, which allows us to offer reduced response times, even in analyses with demanding execution requirements.