TY - JOUR A1 - Drexler, A A1 - Konert, Florian A1 - Sobol, Oded A1 - Rhode, Michael A1 - Domitner, J A1 - Sommitsch, C A1 - Böllinghaus, Thomas T1 - Enhanced gaseous hydrogen solubility in ferritic and martensitic steels at low temperatures N2 - Metals that are exposed to high pressure hydrogen gas may undergo detrimental failure by embrittlement. Understanding the mechanisms and driving forces of hydrogen absorption on the surface of metals is crucial for avoiding hydrogen embrittlement. In this study, the effect of stress-enhanced gaseous hydrogen uptake in bulk metals is investigated in detail. For that purpose, a generalized form of Sievert's law is derived from thermodynamic potentials considering the effect of microstructural trapping sites and multiaxial stresses. This new equation is parametrized and verified using experimental data for carbon steels, which were charged under gaseous hydrogen atmosphere at pressures up to 1000 bar. The role of microstructural trapping sites on the parameter identification is critically discussed. KW - Hydrogen KW - Thermodynamic modelling KW - Pressure-dependent solubility KW - Steel KW - Trapping PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-559307 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.109 SN - 0360-3199 VL - 47 IS - 93 SP - 39639 EP - 39653 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-55930 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Konert, Florian A1 - Nietzke, Jonathan A1 - Grimault de Freitas, Tomás A1 - Rhode, Michael A1 - Sobol, Oded A1 - Böllinghaus, Thomas T1 - Investigation of resistance to gaseous hydrogen of a longitudinal weld seam in a X65 pipeline using the hollow specimen technique N2 - The constantly increasing demand for renewable energy sources leads to the necessity of transporting large amounts of hydrogen. Since pipelines enable a cost-effective way for the distribution of gaseous hydrogen, the interaction of hydrogen and the pipeline materials must be carefully investigated as hydrogen can cause a degradation of the mechanical properties under certain conditions. Especially welds, which are assumed to be more susceptible to the degradation enhanced by hydrogen, are of great interest. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of gaseous hydrogen on the mechanical properties of an X65 pipeline, and the longitudinal submerged arc welding (SAW) welded joint. The tests are conducted using the hollow specimen technique on two types of specimens: one extracted from the base material (BM) and the other extracted as a cross-weld (CW) specimen consisting of BM and weld seam. The specimens are charged in situ under a pressure of 60 bar and tested using slow strain rate (SSR) tensile tests with a nominal strain rate of 10−5 s−1. The properties obtained of specimens tested in hydrogen atmosphere are compared to the properties of comparable specimen in inert argon atmosphere as a reference. The performed tests showed a decrease of the reduction of area (RA) from 72% in inert atmosphere to 52% in hydrogen atmosphere for the CW specimen and a decrease from 73% in inert atmosphere to 51% for the BM. Metallographic analyses showed the crack initiation between fine-grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) and BM for the specimens tested in hydrogen atmosphere as well as for the reference specimens. This leads to the conclusion that the location of the crack initiation does not change due to the presence of gaseous hydrogen. KW - Hydrogen KW - Hollow specimen technique KW - Pipeline KW - SSRT KW - Hydrogen embrittlement KW - Cross-weld specimen PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624658 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40194-025-01953-3 SN - 0043-2288 SN - 1878-6669 VL - 69 IS - 3 SP - 861 EP - 870 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-62465 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rhode, Michael T1 - Hydrogen in Welded Microstructures of T24 Steel: Effect on Mechanical Properties and Corresponding Hydrogen Diffusion N2 - Low-alloyed CrMoV steels, such as T24, are widely used for welded components in fossil power stations due to their excellent creep-strength. Spectacular failure cases in the recent years exhibited severe cracking in T24 welds. The results showed that hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) occurring up to 200 degree Celsius cannot be excluded. Hence, a basic understanding is necessary on how hydrogen affects the material properties of welded microstructures. In this regard, each weld microstructure (HAZ and weld metal) has influence on the HAC susceptibility and respective hydrogen diffusion. Thus, the present contribution summarizes different results obtained from experiments with grades T24 (CrMoV alloy) and T22 (CrMo) and thermally simulated HAZ. Tensile tests were conducted with hydrogen charged specimens and compared to hydrogen-assisted stress corrosion cracking results obtained from slow strain rate tests (SSRT) up to 200 degree Celsius. Electrochemical permeation and degassing experiments were performed to identify a particular weld microstructure influence on hydrogen diffusion and trapping (especially in the HAZ). The results showed that T24 base material has improved resistance to hydrogen-assisted degradation/cracking. In contrast, the as-welded HAZ had remarkably increased susceptibility (tesnile tests at hydrogen concentration of 1 to 2 ppm). SSRT experiments confirmed this at elevated temperatures for both the T24 and the T22. Hence, the evaluation of a particular degradation of the mechanical properties should be performed independently for each weld microstructure. In addition, the HAZ showed decreased diffusion coefficients (at room temperature) of approximately one magnitude compared to the base materials. Trapped hydrogen was determined in the T24 at temperatures up to 120 degree Celsius compared to 75 degree Celsius in the T22. This has to be considered in case of changing operational temperatures, e.g. in the case of start-up and shutdown processes of boiler components. T2 - 10th Conference on Trends in Welding Research CY - Tokyo, Japan DA - 11.10.2016 KW - Degradation of Mechanical Properties KW - Hydrogen KW - Creep-resistant Steel KW - Weld Joint KW - Diffusion PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-37827 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Czeskleba, Denis A1 - Rhode, Michael A1 - Wandtke, Karsten A1 - Irfan, Muhammad Dary A1 - Kannengiesser, Thomas T1 - Hydrogen diffusion in thick-walled S690 saw joints: part 1—experimental determination of microstructure-dependent diffusion coefficients N2 - High-strength low-alloyed steel S690 is widely used in heavy-duty applications, such as structural components, mobile cranes, and industrial plant construction, owing to their high strength and weldability. However, thick-plate submerged arc welding (SAW) can introduce elevated hydrogen levels and residual stresses that promote time-delayed hydrogen-assisted cold cracking (HACC). Accurate, microstructure-specific diffusion data are scarce, limiting predictive HACC assessments. This study presents an experimental determination of hydrogen diffusion coefficients (DH) in two S690 variants: thermomechanically rolled (S690MC) and quenched and tempered (S690Q). Multi-layer SAW welds were produced from 30 mm thick plate material at three heat input levels, and diffusion membranes were extracted from weld metal (WM), heat-affected zone (HAZ), and base material (BM). Hydrogen permeation tests, conducted in accordance with DIN En ISO 17081, yielded flux curves normalized in time from which DH was derived using the inflection-point method. At room temperature, DH values ranged from 6 × 10−5 mm2/s to 9 × 10−5 mm2/s across all regions and heat inputs, with no significant difference between S690MC and S690Q. Weld metal exhibited marginally lower DH, attributed to enhanced hydrogen trapping, while base material measurements showed greater variability. These microstructure-resolved diffusion coefficients add quantitative data for modern S690 SAW welds and provide internally consistent input parameters for the numerical simulations presented in part 2. The results support improved parameterization for subsequent assessments of HACC risk through the optimization of welding parameters. KW - Hydrogen assisted cracking KW - Submerged arc welding KW - Diffusion KW - Electrochemical permeation KW - Microstructure PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655711 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40194-026-02400-7 SN - 0043-2288 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65571 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Czeskleba, Denis A1 - Rhode, Michael A1 - Wandtke, Karsten A1 - Irfan, Muhammad Dary A1 - Kannengiesser, Thomas T1 - Hydrogen diffusion in thick-walled S690 SAW joints: part 2 – predictive modeling of heat input and microstructure influence N2 - High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels such as S690 are widely employed in thick-walled welded structures, where hydrogen-assisted cold cracking (HACC) remains a persistent concern. While microstructure-specific hydrogen diffusion coefficients (DH) for weld metal (WM), heat-affected zone (HAZ), and base material (BM) were experimentally established in Part 1 of this study, their quantitative influence on hydrogen accumulation and effusion has not yet been fully clarified. This work presents a transient, spatially resolved numerical model for simulating hydrogen transport in multi-pass submerged arc welds. The model integrates experimentally determined DH values with realistic thermal cycles and temperature-dependent boundary conditions. Developed in Python, the simulation tool is purpose-built for hydrogen diffusion in welded joints. It offers a focused, transparent alternative. It offers a focused, transparent alternative to general-purpose finite element platforms. Parametric analyses demonstrate that, although the diffusion coefficients vary by up to 50%, their impact on overall hydrogen retention is minor. In contrast, plate thickness, bead geometry, cooling time (t₈/₅), and interpass temperature exert a dominant influence on hydrogen distribution. Despite clear microstructural differences between the thermomechanically rolled (S690MC) and quenched and tempered (S690Q) variants, including opposite HAZ hardness responses (softening in S690MC, hardening in S690Q) in the (pen)ultimate weld bead, the simulations confirm that their diffusion behavior and hydrogen solubility are closely aligned. Consequently, differences in DH and solubility exert only a minor influence on hydrogen retention compared to thermal exposure and joint geometry. These findings support the interchangeable use of both steel grades in terms of HACC risk due to hydrogen diffusion kinetics under comparable welding conditions. KW - Hydrogen assisted cracking KW - Numerical simulation KW - Diffusion KW - Submerged arc welding PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655721 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40194-026-02395-1 SN - 0043-2288 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65572 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rhode, Michael T1 - Determination, Assessment and Quantification of Hydrogen in Multi-pass / Multi-layer Weld Joints by Adapted ISO 3690 Samples - DEAQuade - N2 - High-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) structural steels, such as S690 and higher grades, are used in numerous applications, enabling sustainable, lightweight structural construction. However, the welded joints of these steels can be susceptible to hydrogen-assisted cold cracking (HACC), especially in the hardened weld metal (WM) or heat-affected zone (HAZ). HACC in high-strength welds basically involves a critical combination of local, mutually dependent parameters consisting of: (1) a crack-critical microstructure; (2) sufficiently high mechanical stress; and (3) a diffusible hydrogen concentration (HD). In this context, thick-walled steel weld joints typically involve multi-layer welding with several passes. This leads to an effective, empirically known reduction in the global HD in the weld seam. This reduction is due to the repeated reheating of subsequently welded beads or layers, which reduces the local HD in the individual weld beads or layers. However, this has not yet been adequately quantified or described. Bead-on-plate tests, such as ISO 3690, cannot correctly reproduce the local HD distribution in individual welding passes (and thus, the global HD in the entire seam). Therefore, these tests lead to an extremely conservative evaluation of hydrogen ingress and the potential for "self-reduction" of HD due to increased interpass temperature during multi-layer welding, which has not yet been adequately addressed in the literature. Ideally, the local HD in each pass and the global (average) HD of the multi-layer weld would be known immediately after welding. For this reason, the study proposes an approach to address the local, track-, and layer-dependent, as well as global, hardness (HD) of multi-layer welds via a modified ISO 3690 test. To this end, representative welding parameter combinations for selected practical welding processes (e.g., SAW, GMAW, or SMAW) will be carried out as conventional bead-on-plate samples. These samples will be systematically extended by an increasing number of welding passes. Several sample series with an increasing number of beads or layers will be examined. Additionally, the initial HD is varied by methods such as targeted shielding gas variation (e.g., addition of hydrogen in GMAW) or moistened flux/coating (e.g., SAW/SMAW). Based on experimental data (temperature field measurements during welding and determination of temperature-dependent HD coefficients), a numerical hydrogen diffusion model is created. This model calculates the local HD (in the beads) and the HD across the weld cross-section. Additional variation calculations represent heat transfer conditions that were not recorded experimentally and their influence on HD distribution. Finally, we investigate the potential use of the modified ISO 3690 multi-layer geometry for application cases such as (1) predicting the effectiveness and necessity of hydrogen removal heat treatment procedures for given welding parameter sets and (2) extending the HD classification definition (e.g., allowing HD10 use for HSLA steels with RP0.2 > 690 MPa instead of HD5). Finally, an international round robin should be initiated once the concept has been successfully confirmed and verified. T2 - IIW Intermediate Meeting, Com. II-A CY - Bangkok, Thailand DA - 17.03.2026 KW - Hydrogen assisted cracking KW - Multi-pass welding KW - Diffusion KW - Cold cracking test PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65716 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rhode, Michael T1 - Praktikable Prüfung der Wasserstoffverteilung in Mehrlagenschweißungen in Anlehnung an die DIN EN ISO 3690 N2 - Das Forschungsvorhaben adressiert eine zentrale Lücke und damit einhergehende Einschränkung für geschweißte hochfeste Werkstoffe in der aktuellen Normung: Die DIN EN ISO 3690 erlaubt ausschließlich die Bestimmung des diffusiblen Wasserstoffs in einlagigen Prüfraupen und bildet damit die realen Bedingungen in mehrlagigen Schweißnähten hochfester Stähle nicht ab. Durch das mehrfache wiederholte Aufwärmen wird die eingebrachte Wasserstoffkonzentration deutlich unter die konservativen, einlagigen Prüfraupen bereits während des Schweißens abgesenkt. Hierzu fehlt jedoch eine einfache, experimentelle Methoden, um die tatsächliche lokale lagenabhängige bzw. globale Wasserstoffverteilung quantifizieren zu können. Das Vorhaben entwickelt daher erstmals eine Versuchsmethodik, der reale Diffusions- und Entgasungsbedingungen von Mehrlagenschweißungen experimentell reproduziert. Dadurch werden die Nachteile der ISO 3690 (einlagige Prüfraupe, konservative Bewertung) aufgehoben und mit dem Hauptvorteil (robuste, einfache Handhabung) kombiniert. Durch gezielte Variation von Wärmeführung, Zwischenlagentemperaturen und Wasserstoffangebot werden lokale und globale Wasserstoffverteilungen quantifiziert. Ergänzt durch ein numerisches Diffusionsmodell entsteht ein skalierbares Bewertungswerkzeug, das die experimentellen Daten generalisiert und auf reale Schweißnähte überträgt. Die Ergebnisse ermöglichen: (1) eine realitätsnahe Bewertung verbleibender Wasserstoffgehalte, Kaltrisssicherheit, damit die (2) die mögliche Ausweitung der HD Klassifizierung hochfester Schweißzusätze, und (3) die Beurteilung der Effektivität und Notwendigkeit von Wärmenachbehandlungs-maßnahmen (wie „Wasserstoffarmglühen“). T2 - Sitzung des NA 092-00-05 GA Gemeinschaftsarbeitsausschuss NAS/NMP: Zerstörende Prüfung von Schweißverbindungen (DVS AG Q 4/Q 4.1) CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 24.03.2026 KW - Schweißen KW - Wasserstoff KW - ISO 3690 KW - Prüfung KW - Mehrlagennaht PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65784 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -