Impact of Hydrogen Embrittlement on Hydrogen Economy Zr-2.5%Nb Pressure Tube Material

In order to mitigate the effect of global warming and climate change by reducing CO₂ emission, clean energy options are being explored. Hydrogen generation using renewable energy like solar and wind is one of the clean energy options being considered. Four pillars of hydrogen economy are hydrogen generation, storage, transportation and consumption. The overall life cycle cost of these technologies will depend on the endurance of the material of construction used. Hydrogen is known to cause embrittlement in steels and in hydride forming metals, which can lead to early failure of the components used in hydrogen economy. The overall life cycle cost of these technologies can be significantly reduced if the operating parameters are so chosen to avoid susceptibility to hydrogen/hydride embrittlement or use materials, which are resistant to hydrogen/hydride embrittlement. Hence, investigation of the hydrogen/hydride embrittlement of the materials used during the hydrogen production, storage and transportation has to be in sync with technologies related to hydrogen energy. Significant work has been reported on hydrogen/hydride embrittlement of structural materials such as high strength steels, Ti-alloys, Zr-alloys, Nb-alloys used in power and process industries. The knowhow of the hydrogen/hydride embrittlement mechanisms of these materials will be of immense help in understanding the hydrogen/hydride embrittlement of newer materials of construction used in hydrogen systems. The mechanisms of hydrogen and hydride embrittlement will be discussed.