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The presentation gives an overview of BAM's activities on processing influences and application properties of MPEAs in the form of joined and machined high and medium entropy alloys (CoCrFeMnNi and CoCrNi). In the case of welding, the focus is on defect-free welded joints with sufficient mechanical properties. In the case of machining, the focus is on the possible influence on the surface quality of the materials through adequate milling parameters. In addition, the hydrogen absorption and diffusion properties as well as the electrochemical corrosion behavior are fundamentally examined.
Joining and welding technologies are of high importance for the manufacturing of components and parts used in sustainable energy generation, conversion, and transport. In that connection, offshore and on-shore installed wind turbines are of high interest for the generation of electrical energy as well as photo-voltaic systems (solar cells). The electricity can be either directly transported or conversed via power-to-gas e.g., to hydrogen. In that scope, electrolyzer up to MW-range are of interest as well as the conver-sion back to electricity via fuel cells. In addition, hydrogen is a key element of the decarburization of in-dustries as well as the mobility sector encompassing sea, air and land transportation driven by hydrogen or its derivates. Well-known examples cover the direct reduction of iron ore to replace the conventional blast furnace process up to gas turbines or fuel cells for home-end use. All mentioned technologies re-quire reliable components, which are to a high extend dependent on joining and especially welding pro-cessing of materials. Especially, the (petro-) chemical industry has many years of experience with both materials used in hydrogen applications. The challenge is e.g., the transition to mass production of sys-tem components of electrolyzers/fuel cells and for distribution grids. At this point, the scalability of cur-rently applied joining processes often limits the economic efficiency, whereas especially laser welding or additive manufacturing will be of high interest. In that connection, it is very important to provide answers by joint research of universities, institutes, and industrial companies. Very often, solutions are already available and “just” have to be investigated and adapted for the new application, like repair welding of NG pipelines. For that reason, we want to set up a series of comprehensive papers with the aforementioned title. The idea is to get an in-depth but manageable overview of the importance of joining technologies in sustaina-ble energy generation, conversion, and transport encompassing current processes, limitations, and fur-ther perspectives. In that connection, the additive manufacturing is gaining more and more attention. If applicable, current challenges in the adaption or creation of new standards/regulations shall be addressed.
As energy carrier of the future, green hydrogen can make a decisive contribution to a sustainable energy supply. Particularly important is the decarbonization of heavy industry. Therefore, a reliable supply of hydrogen must be guaranteed. A hydrogen pipeline grid can achieve this purpose. In Europe concrete plans for a hydrogen pipeline grid already exist, as the so called “European Hydrogen backbone”. As building a completely new pipeline grid is economically not justifiable, a dual-way strategy of repurposing natural gas (NG) pipelines and newly built pipelines is intended. Long distance pipeline grids require regular maintenance and repairs. For natural gas (NG) pipelines in-service welding is state of the art. Concepts such as hot-tapping (drilling into pressurized pipelines) and “stoppling” (sealing off pipeline sections after installing bypasses or pressure relieves) allow the repair of damaged pipeline sections or the installation of new branches without shutting the pipeline down, which in most cases isn’t possible from an economic standpoint. The EIGA 121/14 guideline already pointed out in 2014 that “a hydrogen hot-tap shall not be considered a routine procedure”. This shows that the determination of the transferability of these repair concepts to hydrogen pipelines is of utmost importance. Due to the degrading effects of hydrogen on mechanical proper-ties, commonly referred to as “hydrogen embrittlement” it is necessary to understand and investigate the occurring effects. In the special case of repair welding on in-service hydrogen pipelines an increased hydro-gen uptake due to a large heat input and microstructural changes in the material needs to be considered. Therefore, material degradation must be investigated to determine whether modifications of repair procedures are necessary to ensure a reliable and safe hydrogen transportation via pipelines. For this reason, this paper gives an overview on existing weld repair concepts and its risks and limitations in terms of hydrogen absorption and possible embrittlement effects when transferred to hydrogen pipelines. The complexity lies in a large variety of materials (low alloyed steels), pipeline diameters and corresponding welded joints. The material compatibility of materials in used (repurposed NG-pipelines) and new condition must be investigated. Particularly for repurposed/used pipelines the effect of a pre-matured/corroded inner surface and sometimes insufficient documentation of the material “history” needs to be considered. An overview on ongoing and completed R&D-projects with respect to repair concepts for hydrogen pipelines and hydrogen effects on pipeline materials is given. The focus hereby lies on possible methods of material testing and modeling. Its current difficulties, limits and possible solution will be discussed.
The development of hydrogen technologies entails high safety requirements in distribution and dispensing infrastructure. Therefore, it is necessary to pursue research on material compatibility in hydrogen, especially for critical parts with tribological issues.
The focus of this study is to evaluate the influence of hydrogen on a wider range of commercially available polymer materials. Thereby, the friction and wear behavior of different grades of TPE, POM, PA66, PA12, PPA, PEEK, PPS, PTFE, PAI, PI and PBI were investigated against a rotating steel disk (AISI 304). Filled and unfilled polymers from different suppliers were evaluated at room temperature in air, vacuum and hydrogen gas (H2) as well as in liquid hydrogen at - 253°C (LH2).
The sliding behavior of the polymer materials is discussed by means of surface analyses, whereby special attention is paid to the formation of a transfer film.
According to the results at ambient temperature, the effect of hydrogen environment on the tribological behavior of neat polymers may be related to lack of moisture, but also to saturated hydrocarbons in gaseous hydrogen. In liquid hydrogen, the best tribological performances were achieved with neat PA polymers as well as PPS and PI composites.
Effect of high-pressure hydrogen environment on the physical and mechanical properties of elastomers
(2024)
This study presents the influence of high-pressure hydrogen environment on the physical and mechanical properties of two types of cross-linked hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers. Based on the CSA/ANSI standard, static exposures in hydrogen experiments were performed up to 100 MPa at 120 °C. Characterization before and after exposure was conducted by means of density and hardness measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile tests, compression set, FT-IR and AFM analyses to assess effects after decompression. While the effect of high-pressure exposure is significant immediately after exposure, most of the physical and mechanical properties recover after 48 hours. FT-IR, AFM, SEM and compression set results indicate, however, permanent effects.
The hydrogen economy is one of the main solutions for achieving climate neutrality in Europe. Metallic materials, predominantly steels, are the most common structural materials in the various components along the hydrogen supply chain. Ensuring their sustainable and safe use in hydrogen technologies is a key factor in the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. This requires extensive materials qualification, however, most of the accepted, and standardised test methods for determining the influence of gaseous hydrogen on metallic materials describe complex and costly procedures that are only available to a very limited extent worldwide (e.g., autoclave technique).
The hollow specimen technique is presented as an alternative method that can overcome the limitations of current techniques and complement them. To standardise the technique, a process has been initiated by ISO in 2021. Knowledge gaps for tests with the technique in hydrogen have been identified by DIN. The H2HohlZug project, which falls under the umbrella of TransHyDE, aims to address the identified knowledge gaps and provide a foundation for a comprehensive standardisation of the hollow specimen technique.
Offshore wind turbines continuously increase in size and weight and demand adequate offshore foundations concepts like monopiles, tripods, or jackets. These components are typically constructed using submerged arc welding (SAW) with high-strength thick steel plates like the S420ML. During welding, the occurrence of delayed hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) must be anticipated. HAC is a critical combination of the local hydrogen concentration within a susceptible microstructure under certain mechanical load, i.e., the occurring (welding) residual stresses. The welding sequence of the thick-walled plates complicates the residual stress distribution due to the necessary repeated thermal cycling, i.e., welding seam/layer deposition to fill the joint. For that purpose, SAW with two-wire-technique was used to weld a specially designed and prototype-like mock-up of a real component with a thickness of 50 mm, filled with over 20 passes and a seam length of 1000 mm. Additional welded stiffeners simulated the effect of a high restraint, to achieve critical HAC conditions. The necessity of a minimum waiting time (MWT) before the NDT can be conducted (to exclude HAC) was critically verified by the application of ultrasonic testing of the welded joint at different time-steps of the NDT of up to 48 h after the completion welding. The residual stresses were determined by a robot XRD goniometer. Tensile residual stresses up to the yield limit are found both in the weld metal and in the heat-affected zone. Numerical modeling allowed the qualitative estimation of the hydrogen diffusion in the weld. No noticeable HAC occurrence was identified and confirms the high cracking resistance of the investigated material. Finally, the applicability of the MWT concept should be critically discussed.
Hydrogen and its derivatives (e.g. ammonia) are considered as a suitable energy carrier in the future supply of renewable energy. Hydrogen transportation systems require pipes, valves and fittings, among other components. In this sense, austenitic stainless steels are commonly used structural materials for pure hydrogen applications. Stable austenitic alloys, like AISI 316L, are often assumed to be practically unsusceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. At the same time, a number of studies show the influence of hydrogen even in 316L under some circumstances. Some other studies state that this embrittlement could be avoided by using steel grades with a higher nickel equivalent which contributes to a more stable austenitic phase. Nonetheless, 316L is widely used in hydrogen atmospheres since many years because of lower costs and positive practical experience. For these reasons, not only 316L but also 304 could be further utilized by identifying the exact constraints.
With increasing demand for components regarding hydrogen applications, additive manufacturing technologies are getting increasingly important complementary to conventional manufacturing. In the context of additive manufacturing, 316L is a common material as well. The manufacturing process offers great advantages due to higher freedoms in design and the possibility for customized components in small batches. For example, valves with improved flow characteristics and reduced component weight can be produced. Nevertheless, there is still lack of experience and experimental results concerning additively manufactured parts under hydrogen service. Therefore, the influence on the material properties for additively manufactured parts in hydrogen environments needs to be further investigated.
In the present work, slow strain rate testing (SSRT) has been applied using hollow specimens. This testing procedure allows to perform practicable and faster in-situ tests in comparison to tests in autoclaves and investigate the influence of hydrogen on the mechanical properties.
Conventional AISI 304 and 316L specimens as well as additively manufactured 316L specimens were tested at room temperature and a pressure of 200 bar. Elongation at fracture and relative reduction of area (RRA) have been used to evaluate the influence of hydrogen. It is shown that the influence of hydrogen is more pronounced in 304 than in 316L. Furthermore, potentially influencing factors such as surface roughness, microstructure and porosity are discussed.
Effect of Tensile Loading and Temperature on the Hydrogen Solubility of Steels at High Gas Pressure
(2023)
The hydrogen solubility in ferritic and martensitic steels is affected by hydrostatic stress, pressure, and temperature. In general, compressive stresses decrease but tensile stresses increase the hydrogen solubility. This important aspect must be considered when qualifying materials for high‐pressure hydrogen applications (e.g., for pipelines or tanks) by using autoclave systems. In this work, a pressure equivalent for compensating the effect of compressive stresses on the hydrogen solubility inside of closed autoclaves is proposed to achieve solubilities that are equivalent to those in pipelines and tanks subjected to tensile stresses. Moreover, it is shown that the temperature effect becomes critical at low temperatures (e.g., under cryogenic conditions for storing liquid hydrogen). Trapping of hydrogen in the microstructure can increase the hydrogen solubility with decreasing temperature, having a solubility minimum at about room temperature. To demonstrate this effect, the generalized law of the hydrogen solubility is parameterized for different steels using measured contents of gaseous hydrogen. The constant parameter sets are verified and critically discussed with respect to the high‐pressure hydrogen experiments.
Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) are innovative materials that have attracted extensive research attention within the last decade. MPEAs are characterized by a solid solution of equiatomic metallic elements. Depending on the number of elements, they are also referred as high entropy alloys (HEAs with n ≥ 4 elements like CoCrFeMnNi) and medium-entropy alloys (MEA with n = 3 elements CoCrNi). Depending on the alloy concept, MPEAs show exceptional properties in terms of mechanical performance or corrosion resistance at extreme environments. In that connection, hydrogen and its challenges for the most metallic materials gets more and more important. MPEAs are candidate materials for the substitution of conventional materials like austenitic stainless steels e.g., at very high-pressure up to 1000 bar. Those pressures are typically reached in valves or compressors for refueling of tanks with operational pressure of 700 bar. So far, the susceptibility of HEA/MEAs to hydrogen assisted cracking (if any) and the especially the underlying hydrogen uptake and diffusion was not within the scientific scope and not investigated in detail yet. For that reason, we focused on the hydrogen absorption the characterization of the hydrogen diffusion and trapping at elevated temperatures in a CoCrFeMnNi-HEA (each element with 20 at.-%) and CoCrNi-MEA, each element with 33.3 at.-%). As reference grade, the commercially available austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L was investigated. High-pressure hydrogen charging was conducted at different pressures in autoclave environment with maximum value of 1,000 bar. Thermal desorption analysis (TDA) via carrier gas hot extraction with coupled mass spectrometry was used with a max. heating rate of 0.5 K/s up to 650 °C. The measured desorption spectra of the different samples were deconvoluted into a defined number of individual peaks. The individually calculated peak temperatures allowed the definition of activation energies for predominant trap sites in the respective materials as well as the percentage share of the totally absorbed hydrogen concentration. The results present for the first time the complex interaction of both MPEAs and high-pressure hydrogen charging. A deconvolution of four peaks was selected and a main desorption peak was identified the dominant hydrogen trap containing the biggest share of the absorbed hydrogen concentration. The chemical composition an austenitic phase of both MPEAs is responsible for delayed hydrogen diffusion and strong, but mostly reversible, trapping. The comparison with the 316L samples showed significantly higher activation energies in the MPEAs, whereas hydrogen was also trapped at very high extraction temperatures. The absorbed maximum hydrogen concentration at 1,000 bar was 130 ppm for the CoCrFeMnNi-HEA, 50 ppm for the CoCrNi-MEA and 80 ppm for the 316L. It is interesting that the CoCrFeMnNi-HEA has obviously a way higher trapping capability compared to the conventional austenitic 316L, which could be a major advantage in terms of resistance to hydrogen assisted cracking.
The study provides an overview of the aspects of joining and its importance in manufacturing of components for the more and more important field of hydrogen as key factor for the energy transition to a decarburized future. To this end, the fundamentals of the technology fields of hydrogen production, storage, transport, and application are presented and the state of the art of manufacturing of components for hydrogen technologies by joining is summarized. Based on representative examples from practice, research and development, the importance of joining technology in hydrogen technologies is clearly highlighted and perspectives for the future are derived. From a macroeconomic perspective, the focal points, or trends of joining technologies here include: the erection of new infrastructure for hydrogen storage and transport, and the safe conversion of existing natural gas infrastructure and its challenges for welded materials. In addition, we show the problems that are anticipated with in-service repair welding of hydrogen pipelines. In hydrogen applications, the efficient mass production of fuel cells and electrolysers is becoming increasingly important. For that reason, the importance of additive manufacturing is highlighted. Finally, the challenges for technical regulations and standardization by using hydrogen are shown.
In the course of tomorrow's hydrogen-based energy transition, the construction of the corresponding infrastructure will play a central role. In that context, large diameter long-distance transmission pipelines for hydrogen will be the backbone in the European Union with service pressures from 70 to 90 bar (e.g., depending on national regulations). It is a major goal to rededicate the existing LNG infrastructure despite the necessity of new pipelines. From that point of view repairing of such transmissions pipelines via welding can be necessary. For the LNG infrastructure, it is state of the art that repair welding is conducted at pipelines under service, i.e., the LNG is still flowing as pressurized gas in the steel pipes. The reason is that a shut-down of large diameter pipelines is not so easy or sometimes impossible. In fact, as long no oxygen enters the pipeline, there would be any combustion or (in the worst case) explosion. At the moment, it is entirely open if current repair welding procedures for LNG pipelines can be transferred to pure hydrogen pipelines. In opposite to LNG, hydrogen can be way easier absorbed to the pipeline steels and diffuses through the material. If it accumulates in susceptible regions, i.e., in the welded joint, hydrogen assisted embrittlement could occur. The planned welding procedure requires a so-called preheating and maintenance of the weld joint of up to 300°C for several hours. This temperature is way higher compared to the typical service temperature of max. 40 to 50°C at operational pressures of 100 bar. In accordance to API 941, these low-alloyed pipeline steels are subjected to short-term service loads, which they are not designed for. For that reason, a collaborative project between BAM and DVGW (German Association for Gas and Water professions) was initiated in 2022 to answer the following questions by experiments and numerical simulation of: (1) How many hydrogen is additionally absorbed during the heating of the material to max. 300°C under remaining operational pressures? (2) Is the hydrogen concentration sufficient to reach a critical condition? (3) Which material and weld microstructure is the most susceptible? (4) Is there a significant difference in the repair welding behavior of LNG pipelines that had been already in use for long-term? (5) Which welding parameters and joint dimensions must be ensured for safe repair welding repair of typical pipelines? For that reason, the present study gives an overview on the current practice in repair welding of in-service pipelines, the industrial importance of this topic for the hydrogen-based energy transition and summarizes first results.
In the course of tomorrow's hydrogen-based energy transition, the construction of the corresponding infrastructure will play a central role. The majority of materials used to date are typically welded for component fabrication. In that context, steels are widely applied and can be prone to hydrogen embrittlement. For the evaluation of any hydrogen effect on, for example, the mechanical properties of a welded metallic material, the hydrogen content must be precisely determined. According to ISO 3690, carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE) can be used. In addition to the pure quantification of hydrogen, thermal desorption analysis (TDA) with varied heating rates can be used to determine and evaluate the bonding state at microstructural defects in the material. For both techniques, experimental and measurement influences have to be considered, which have a great effect on the result. For CGHE, for example, ISO 3690 suggests different sample geometries as well as minimum extraction times. The present study summarizes results and experiences of numerous investigations with different sample temperatures and geometries (ISO 3690 type B and cylindrical TDA samples) regarding: the influence of the sample surface (polished/welded), measurement accuracies depending on the sample volume. In particular, a deviating extraction temperature to the set temperature, can significantly falsify the measurement results. Based on the results, methods are shown to quickly reach the desired extraction temperature without having to physically interfere with the measurement equipment. This serves to substantially improve the reliability of hydrogen measurement through increased signal stability and accelerated hydrogen desorption. In general, an independent temperature measurement with dummy samples for the selected heating procedure is advisable to exclude possible unwanted temperature influences already before the measurement. In addition (and way more important), the methods described can be transferred directly to industrial applications.
The hydrogen economy requires large-scale storage and transportation options like long-distance transmission pipelines. The applied materials (typically steels) must be carefully tested under different conditions (pressure, temperature, impact of impurities, etc.) for their suitability and service with hydrogen. In combination with mechanical load, as occurs in every gas network, hydrogen can induce degradation of the mechanical properties and promote finally resulting in embrittlement, i.e., the formation of cracks. The conventional testing procedures consist of autoclaves in which samples are strained under pressurized hydrogen. The test apparatus requires large amounts of hydrogen and thus a high level of safety and costs. In very specific cases, these tests might be replaced by simplified electrochemical charging. However, these test alternatives raise several questions regarding the equivalency of both testing scenarios. In the early 1980’s the idea of a so-called hollow tensile sample raised and was reinitiated 2021 in ISO TC 164 by T. Ogata (NIMS, Japan) and further developed (e.g. by Fraunhofer IWM, Germany). The idea was: the sample itself represents the autoclave instead of charging a sample from outside. For that reason, a hole is drilled through the sample and the inner surface is pressurized by hydrogen gas during the mechanical testing. Indeed, this represents the main advantage as no expensive pressure-resistant autoclave equipment for large H-volumes is necessary, which significantly reduces the safety-related issues and thus the high costs. In the following, we show recent activities at BAM Berlin on adaption of the hollow-specimen technique for slow strain rate testing (SSRT). The current research activities are focussed on macroscopic influences like the sample geometry, minimum necessary dimensions, and microscopic influences e.g., on the surface by the processing method (drill hole quality and geometric precision) as well as the gas pressure effect (mechanical deformation of surface in different media).
Eight commercial austenitic stainless steels were tensile tested in reference atmosphere, in gaseous high-pressure hydrogen and in gaseous hydrogen precharged condition using conventional (CS) and tubular specimens (TS). For all configurations, 0.2 yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were comparable. In reference atmosphere, reduction of area of CS was higher compared to TS, whereas in gaseous high pressure hydrogen reduction of area of CS was lower compared to TS. In gaseous hydrogen precharged condition reduction of area of CS and TS were comparable for the severely affected grades. The differences in necking behavior between CS and TS are explained by different competitions between necking and hydrogen assisted crack initiation and growth especially for the tests in high pressure hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen has great potential into the decarbonization process of the energy and transport sectors, thus helping to mitigate the urgent issue of global warming. It can be sustainably produced through water electrolysis with potentially zero emissions, and efficiently used in fuel cell systems. Despite its environmental advantages, hydrogen is an extremely flammable substance and its interaction with most metallic materials could result in their mechanical properties degradation to an extent that could make them inherently unsafe.
Extensive material testing under realistic operating conditions is required to determine the criteria under which hydrogen-induced damage is to be expected. In-situ slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test is an option that allow the quantification of the behavior of metals in hydrogenated environments. The standardized procedure for testing in-situ the pressurized gaseous hydrogen
effect on metals consists of the utilization of an autoclave as a containment volume. Testing inside an autoclave is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, and requires specialized equipment and trained personnel. A relatively recent method to circumvent these issues and provide affordable and reliable test results consists in using hollow specimens as the gas containment volume, thus applying the hydrogen pressure inside rather than outside the
specimen. This experimental setup allows us to minimize the volume of hydrogen and perform the tests safely and effectively. This study focuses on the evaluation of tensile properties of X65 pipeline steel, which was in vervice for natural gas transport, tested in a high-pressure hydrogen environment using hollow specimens. A constant nominal strain rate of 1ꞏ10-6 s-1 is applied. Tests are performed with different manufacturing techniques for the drilling process, which results in difeerent surface conditions. The effect of the roughness on the HE was investigated. For the evaluation the effect on the reduced area at fracture (RA) and the elongation loss were determined. Further fractographic analysis were performed. In this way, this study provides insights on the applicability of novel, reliable, and safer testing method which can be used to assess HE, particularly in relation with hydrogen-induced loss of ductility in metallic material.
This contribution briefly summarizes the standardization activities in accordance with the "Nationale Roadmap Wasserstofftechnologien" and presents selected results on the activities in Germany with scope on hydrogen transport in pipelines. The talk was given during a panel discussion to set-up a steering committee for standardization for hydrogen pipelines and welding , coordinated by the International Institute of Welding.
In the course of tomorrow's hydrogen-based energy transition, the construction of the corresponding infrastructure will play a central role. In that context, large diameter long-distance transmission pipelines for hydrogen will be the backbone in the European Union with service pressures from 70 to 90 bar (e.g., de-pending on national regulations). It is a major goal to repurposing the existing natural gas (NG) infrastructure despite the necessity of new pipelines. From that point of view repair welding or further welding of branch pipe etc. can be necessary during in-service, i.e., permanent flow of pressurized hydrogen. The reason is that a shut-down of large diameter pipelines is not easy or sometimes merely impossible. At the moment, it is entirely open if current repair welding procedures for NG pipe-lines can be transferred to pure hydrogen pipelines. For that reason, a collaborative project between BAM, DVGW (German Association for Gas and Water Professions) and a large number of gas grid operators, pipeline manufacturers and construction companies was initiated in 2023 to answer questions on: (1) How many hydrogen is additionally absorbed during the preheating and maintaining at interpass temperature under remaining operational pressures? (2) Is the hydrogen concentration sufficient to reach a critical condition? (3)Which material and weld microstructure are the most susceptible? (4) Is there a difference in the repair welding behavior of NG pipelines with materials in “used” condition? (5) Which welding parameters and joint dimensions must be ensured for safe repair welding? The final aim of this project is the publication of a recommended practice for repair welding of in-service hydrogen pipelines. For that reason, the present study gives an overview on: (A) current practice in repair welding of in-service pipelines and (b) plans for hydrogen pipelines and first results of international research projects.
As the world shifts to a decarbonized economy, the demand for hydrogen-based technologies is rapidly increasing. In order to make optimal use of hydrogen as an energy carrier, the infrastructure for hydrogen storage and transport in particular, must meet high technical safety standards. The indispensable basis for such safety assessments are the material properties, which must be evaluated under operating conditions that are as real as possible.
The conventional method for the assessment of the material properties in gaseous hydrogen is conducted by testing materials in high-pressure hydrogen gas in a pressure vessel (autoclave). It is an established method that allows to perform common standardized tests such as tensile, fatigue and crack growth tests under varying hydrogen conditions. However, this method is complex and entails high costs due to extensive safety regulations.
The hollow specimen technique is a more efficient test method, which can be used to assess the mechanical properties of materials under high-pressure hydrogen gas. The procedure is conducted by enclosing high-pressure gas into a hole along the axis of the tensile test specimen. Recently, this method has been successfully performed at pressures up to 1000 bar and over a wide range of temperatures. Due to the low hydrogen volume needed, this method requires minimal safety regulation; therefore, the costs are reduced when compared to the conventional autoclave technique. This method is now in a standardization process, which has been initiated by Japan as a new working package in ISO (TC 164/SC 1/WG 9).
The following contribution presents preliminary results obtained testing common grades of metastable austenitic stainless steel. For this purpose, the mechanical properties and fracture surface of solid and tubular specimens were assessed and compared using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test as part of the preliminary work at the Fraunhofer IWM. In a similar way, pipeline steels evaluated under hydrogen atmospheres using the geometry adapted by BAM will be presented. Within the framework of the TransHyDE flagship project, more results with the goal of supporting the standardization of the hollow specimen technique are expected to be obtained.
This study gives an overview on the important field of joining processes for component fabrication in hydrogen technologies. The current main issues and future perspectives are highlighted for the different technological field of hydrogen generation, storage, transport and use. In addition, the emerging field of additive manufacturing is included. Some remarks are given for standardization and regulations.
With the introduction of a hydrogen-based energy and national economy, safety-relevant components for hydrogen technologies are becoming increasingly important. Characteristic of hydrogen technologies are, for example, harsh environmental conditions such as cryogenic or high-pressure storage, corrosion issues in fuel cells and electrolyzers, turbines, and many more. Additive manufacturing of components is becoming increasingly important and irreplaceable for the production of complex technical systems. Using the case studies of burners for gas turbines and electrodes and membranes for polymer (PEMFC) and solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells, this article shows the potential of additive manufacturing of components. At the same time, however, the challenge of considering divergent mechanical properties depending on the direction of assembly in a "hydrogen-compatible" manner is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges posed by additive manufacturing and hydrogen for materials testing are highlighted under scenarios that are as realistic as possible.
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are innovative high-performance materials that have attracted more and more research attention. HEAs are characterized by a solid solution of typically five equiatomic metallic elements. In addition, medium-entropy alloys (MEA, with three elements) are of interest and become more and more important. Depending on the alloy concept, HEAs and MEAs show exceptional mechanical properties, especially high-strength and ductility combinations at both cryogenic and elevated temperatures combined with excellent corrosion resistance. Future structural HEA/MEA components can be exposed to potential applications with hydrogen containing environments like high-temperature water in pressurized nuclear reactors or aerospace structures. Other potential applications could be in materials for vessel walls in the field of cryogenic and high-pressure hydrogen storage. So far, the susceptibility of HEAs/MEAs to hydrogen assisted cracking (if any) and the hydrogen diffusion is not investigated in detail yet and can limit or extend possible applications of HEA/MEA as structural materials. In our work, we focused on the hydrogen absorption, diffusion, and distribution in a HEA (CoCrFeMnNi the original Cantor-alloy) and a MEA (CoCrNi). Cathodic hydrogen charging was carried out for the hydrogen ingress, and thermal desorption analysis (TDA) revealed complex hydrogen trapping in both alloy types up to 300 °C. The absorbed total hydrogen concentrations were > 100 ppm for the HEA and > 40 ppm for MEA. In addition, the assessment of the peak deconvolution is not trivial and must consider both experimental and microstructure influences.
Offshore wind turbines are an important goal in national energy strategies worldwide. Foundation structures are manufactured from submerged arc welded (SAW) plates with thicknesses up to 200 mm. In that connection, high-strength steels like the S420G2+M are more and more applied offering the possibility for increased stability and load-bearing capacity of the foundations. These offshore steel grades can show a susceptibility for delayed hydrogen assisted cold cracking of the weld joints. For that purpose, a minimum waiting time (MWT) of up to 48 h (dependent on applied standards) is recommended before non-destructive testing is allowed and conducted. But this concept is based on older steel grades that have been used for three or more decades. Nowadays, the metallurgical improvements (clean steels, proper rolling, and heat treatment) of base materials and well as welding consumables must be anticipated. Hence, the MWT concept should be critically discussed as it is assumed to be very conservative. For that reason, the focus of this study was to investigate the diffusion behavior in S420G2+M steel and its multi-layer SAW joint. Electrochemical permeation experiments were carried at room temperature. Boundary conditions were anticipated in terms of using different sample thicknesses. From the experimental data, hydrogen diffusion coefficients and absorbed diffusible hydrogen concentrations had been calculated. It was shown that hydrogen diffusion in the base material is increased compared to the weld metal. In addition, the sample thickness had a significant on the calculated diffusion coefficients. The minimum and maximum diffusion coefficients had been used for numerical modelling of the hydrogen diffusion in the welding joint. It became clear that a MWT must be always regarded together with a critical initial diffusible hydrogen concentration for the evaluation of a possible delayed cracking as diffusion times were mostly > 48 h due to the thick plates.
Safety and reliability are the major challenges to face for the development and acceptance of hydrogen technology. It is therefore crucial to study deeply material compatibility, in particular polymer materials that are directly in contact with hydrogen. This paper presents an experimental study on the fretting wear behavior of two types of cross-linked hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers against 316L steel ball in hydrogen environment. Furthermore, aging experiments were conducted for 7 days under static conditions in 100 MPa hydrogen. the influences of hydrogen pressure as well as the aging exposure on the fretting behavior are discussed by means of surface analyses along with the material properties.
The degradation effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of steels is well known, but still not sufficiently understood. The fast and safe market ramp up of hydrogen technologies makes it evident to evaluate a wider understanding of this topic. In general it is often described as hydrogen embrittlement. Therefore it is desirable to achieve a test method which is able to provide material properties under hydrogen atmosphere in an easy way. Currently mechanical tests under hydrogen atmosphere are executed in autoclaves. For this technique complex hardware is needed, therefore tests are expensive and test capacities are only available in a small scale. The shown test method promises a trendsetting approach for reducing costs and machine time by using hollow specimen.
Offshore wind turbines are an important goal in national energy strategies worldwide. Foundation structures are manufactured from submerged arc welded (SAW) plates with thicknesses up to 200 mm. In that connection, high-strength steels like the S420G2+M are more and more applied offering the possibility for increased stability and load-bearing capacity of the foundations. These offshore steel grades can show a susceptibility for delayed hydrogen assisted cold cracking of the weld joints. For that purpose, a minimum waiting time (MWT) of up to 48 h (dependent on applied standards) is recommended before non-destructive testing is allowed and conducted. But this concept is based on older steel grades that have been used for three or more decades. Nowadays, the metallurgical improvements (clean steels, proper rolling, and heat treatment) of base materials and well as welding consumables must be anticipated. Hence, the MWT concept should be critically discussed as it is assumed to be very conservative. For that reason, the focus of this study was to investigate the diffusion behavior in S420G2+M steel and its multi-layer SAW joint. Electrochemical permeation experiments were carried at room temperature. Boundary conditions were anticipated in terms of using different sample thicknesses. From the experimental data, hydrogen diffusion coefficients and absorbed diffusible hydrogen concentrations had been calculated. It was shown that hydrogen diffusion in the base material is increased compared to the weld metal. In addition, the sample thickness had a significant on the calculated diffusion coefficients. The minimum and maximum diffusion coefficients had been used for numerical modelling of the hydrogen diffusion in the welding joint. It became clear that a MWT must be always regarded together with a critical initial diffusible hydrogen concentration for the evaluation of a possible delayed cracking as diffusion times were mostly > 48 h due to the thick plates.
Future structural components made of the novel high-entropy (HEA) or medium-entropy alloys (MEA) components can be potentially exposed to hydrogen containing environments like high-temperature water in pressurized nuclear reactors or aerospace structures. Further applications are vessels wall materials for cryogenic or high-pressure hydrogen storage. So far, the susceptibility of HEA/MEAs to hydrogen assisted cracking (if any) and the hydrogen diffusion is not investigated in detail yet and can limit or extend possible applications of HEA/MEA as structural materials. In our work, we focused on the hydrogen absorption, diffusion, and distribution in a HEA (Co20Cr20Fe20Mn20Ni20, the original Cantor-alloy) and a MEA (Co33.3Cr33.3Ni33.3). Conventional cathodic hydrogen charging was carried out for the hydrogen ingress in the materials. Thermal desorption analysis (TDA) via carrier gas hot extraction with coupled mass spectrometry revealed complex hydrogen trapping in both alloy types up to 300 °C. The absorbed total hydrogen concentrations were ≥ 70 ppm for the HEA and approximately 40 ppm for the MEA-type. Although both materials have different chemical composition, the TDA spectra were comparable. In addition, it was shown that the consideration of the sample geometry is an important influence on the sample temperature. It decreases the effective applied heating rate, which must be anticipated for each hydrogen peak after deconvolution of the spectra. This increases the activation energy and shifts the peak to lower temperatures. As a result, microstructure effects can be separated from experimental boundary conditions like the concentration gradient due to the charging process and later thermal activation.
Competence Centre H2Safety@BAM – Safeguarding the Quality Infrastructure in the Hydrogen Economy
(2022)
Hydrogen is a central component of the energy transition and the European Green Deal for a climate-neutral Europe. To achieve the goals defined for 2050, the EU and the German government have developed a framework for action and are making long-term investments in research, development, and the rapid implementation of innovative hydrogen technologies.
With the Competence Centre "H2Safety@BAM", BAM is creating the safety-related prerequisites for the successful implementation of hydrogen technologies at national as well as European level.
To this end, BAM conducts research, testing and consulting in a holistic and inter-disciplinary manner under one roof – in the Competence Centre H2Safety@BAM. The activities of the competence centre focus on ensuring the safety of infra-structures, plants, and processes as well as innovative hydrogen transport and storage systems based on digital quality testing and the experimental testing of components and systems. It thus creates the prerequisites for the implementation and adaptation of legal framework conditions as well as for standardization. Closely related to this are investigations into the properties and compatibility of metallic materials and polymers as well as friction systems for the safe operation of components, plants, processes, and systems. This interdisciplinary and holistic approach is complemented by the development of gas analytics and suitable sensors, online measurements of gas properties in process control, test scenarios under real conditions as well as impact assessments of accidents and risk assessments and risk management systems derived from them. With its portfolio of tasks and competences, BAM builds trust in the safety and reliability of technical system solutions for hydrogen.
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.
Offshore wind turbines continuously increase in size and weight and demand adequate offshore foundations concepts like monopiles, tripods or jackets. These components are typically submerged arc welded (SAW) high-strength thick steel plates like the S420ML. During welding, the occurrence of delayed hydrogen assisted cracking (HAC) must be anticipated. HAC is a critical combination of the local hydrogen concentration within a susceptible microstructure under certain mechanical load, i.e., the occurring (welding) residual stresses. The welding sequence of the thick-walled plates complicate the residual stress distribution due to the necessary repeated thermal cycling, i.e., welding seam / layer deposition to fill the joint. For that purpose, SAW with two-wire-technique was used to weld a specially designed and prototype-like mock-up of a real component with a thickness of 50 mm, filled with 22 passes and a seam length of 1,000 mm. Additional welded stiffeners simulated the effect of a high restraint, to stimulate critical HAC conditions. The residual stresses were determined by a robot XRD goniometer. A least square regression analysis of the sin²ψ-law by using multiple ψ- and φ-tilts was applied. Tensile residual stresses up to the yield limit are found both in the weld metal and in the heat-affected zone. Numerical modelling allowed the qualitative estimation of the hydrogen diffusion in the weld, enabling the determination of critical conditions for the formation of HAC. In a future step, a structural simulation will allow the assessment of the welding residual stresses and the comparison to the XRD-values.
Joining processes for components in hydrogen technologies: Current need and future importance
(2022)
This presentation gives an overview on the importance of joining processes for component fabrication in hydrogen technologies. For that reason, the current need and future research and developement activites are highlighted for the three technological fields: hydrogen storage, transport and use (in terms of the emerging field of additive manufacturing). Finally, some remarks are given for necessary changes in the standardization.
This lecture deals with the sliding behaviour of polymer materials in hydrogen environment. After a short introduction of the hydrogen activities at BAM, the tribological performances of polymer materials in gaseous hydrogen are presented and compared with air and vacuum environment. The second part focusses on the influence of the counterface materials in hydrogen. Finally, the last section is dedicated to experiments liquid hydrogen.
The focus of this study is to evaluate of hydrogen on the friction and wear behavior of a wide range of polymer materials. Thereby, the tribological performance of filled and unfilled polymers from different suppliers were compared at room temperature in air and hydrogen gas (H2) as well as in liquid hydrogen at -253°C (LH2).
This study gives an overview on the important field of joining processes for component fabrication in hydrogen technologies. For that reason, the current need and future research and developement activites are highlighted for the different technological field of hydrogen generation, storage, transport and use. In addition, the emerging field of additive manufacturing is included. Finally, some remarks are given for necessary changes in the standardization and its challenges.
Characterization of Hydrogen Diffusion in a Thick-walled Submerged Arc Multi-Layer Weld Joint
(2021)
The energy production of the future will be dominated by CO2-emission free techniques like wind turbines and become essential in scope of the planned hydrogen economy. As onshore installation capacity is limited, the in-crease of the number of offshore wind turbines (OWT) is a major goal. In that connection, the OWTs continuously increase in size and weight and demand adequate foundations concepts like monopiles or tripods. These compo-nents are typically manufactured from welded mild steel plates with thickness up to 200 mm. The predominant welding technique is submerged arc welding (SAW) with up to five wires. In accordance with the standards, the occurrence of delayed hydrogen assisted cracking is anticipated by either a hydrogen removal heat treatment (HRHT) or a so-called minimum waiting time (MWT) before non-destructive testing (NDT) of the respective weld joint is allowed. The reason for the MWT is the necessary time for the hydrogen diffusion at ambient temperature due the high plate thickness. Both the effectiveness of a HRHT at elevated temperatures or the MWT at ambient temperature can be estimated by calculation of the diffusion time. This time depends on reliable hydrogen diffu-sion coefficients and these are rare in literature. For that reason, this study presents the hydrogen diffusion coef-ficients obtained from a multi-layer SAW joint of an offshore steel grade. Two different experimental techniques were used to identify the respective diffusion behavior: (1) hydrogen desorption experiments with a carrier gas hot extraction analyzer at elevated temperatures for the characterization of a HRHT and (2) the electrochemical permeation technique at ambient temperature for the characterization of an MWT. From both experiments, the respective diffusion coefficients were calculated. The obtained DCs are different from those reported in literature, i.e., the duration or applicability of a HRHT or MWT must be critically discussed.
Measurement of hydrogen concentration in steels by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
(2021)
Current efforts to achieve lightweight construction and the required reduction in CO2 emissions and an increase in energy and resource efficiency call for the increasing use of high-strength fine-grain structural steels. However, as the strength of higher-strength fine-grain structural steels increases, so do the associated joining challenges. Particular attention must be paid to hydrogen-assisted cold cracking. The influence of hydrogen reveals itself less in the strength but has a significant effect on the deformability [1, 2]. The degradation of the material properties can lead to zero ductility, where the values of the yield strengths coincide with the tensile strengths.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a spectroscopic technique that can be used to determine elemental compositions without pre-treatment of the samples. Short, high-energy laser pulses ablate a small volume (< 0.1 mm3) of the examined material and ionize it to form a plasma. The decaying plasma emits element-specific light. This light is spectroscopically analysed and allows to detect qualitatively the present elements and to quantify them with help of a standardization routine. The simple experimental set-up and the fast, nearly non-destructive analysis procedure characterize the LIBS analysis. The LIBS method allows a time and spatially resolved in situ measurement of steel components in use.
Even low hydrogen concentrations (~ 1 wt.-ppm) in steel can be measured with the LIBS method and can be quantified with help of certified reference materials. The results are compared with results gained with the well-established carrier gas hot extraction method.
Martensitic 9 %-Cr steels like P91 and P92 show susceptibility to delayed hydrogen assisted cracking depending on their microstructure. In that connection, effective hydrogen diffusion coefficients are used to assess the possible time-delay. The small number of available diffusion coefficients varies already at room temperature by several orders of magnitude (mostly regarded as result of present microstructure). Especially P91 weld metal diffusion coefficients are rare so far. For that reason, electrochemical permeation experiments had been conducted using P92 base metal and P91 weld metal (in as-welded and heat-treated condition) with different thicknesses. The diffusion coefficients are calculated by two methods (time-lag and inflection point method) were performed. The results show that, despite of microstructural effects, the sample thickness must be considered as it influences the calculated diffusion coefficients. Finally, the comparison of calculated and measured hydrogen concentrations (determined by carrier gas hot extraction) enables the identification of realistic diffusion coefficients.
As more industrial interests focusing on using salt caverns and repurposed gas or petroleum reservoirs for alternative fuel storage, i.e. CO2/H2, the question raises whether microorganisms may impact the infrastructure, gas purity and storage condition over time.
Environments with high salinity (> 1.5 Meq of NaCl) are resided by halophiles (salt-loving microorganisms). To compensate for the intensive osmotic stress, they have resorted to two main adaptation strategies: 1) production of compatible solutes and 2) accumulation of intracellular KCl. Microbial community analysis of several high salinity environments revealed a number of recurring genera, including Halomonas and Halanaerobium. However, the impact of halophiles on the overall integrity and stability of the storage facilities remain largely unknown.
To evaluate the suitability and stability of saline storage facilities, several model halophilic microorganisms, such as members of Halomonas, will be selected as testing subjects. First, the impact of halophiles on the infrastructure will be determined using an integrative approach by combining a number of techniques, including electrochemistry, TOF-SIMS, SEM/FIB/EDS and FIB-TEM. Second, the abilities of halophiles to alter the fuel composition (i.e. increase/decrease the fractions of H2) will be monitored using gas chromatography by growing them under high pressure.
As a result of climate change and the accompanying mandatory shift to renewable energy resources, microorganisms will continue to play an important role in the energy sector, both to their benefit and detriment. Thus, it is important to achieve a certain level of understanding regarding the activities and mechanisms of halophiles prior to large-scaled excursions.
The focus of this study is to evaluate the influence of hydrogen on the friction and wear behavior of a wide range of polymer materials. Thereby, the tribological performance of filled und unfilled polymers from different suppliers were compared at room temperature in air and hydrogen gas (H2) as well as in liquid hydrogen at -235°C (LH2).
Offshore wind turbines (OWT) are a major goal of the energy strategy of Germany encompassing the increase of the installed wind power. OWT components are manufactured from welded steel plates with thicknesses up to 200 mm. The underlying standards and technical recommendations for construction of OWTs encompass specifications of so-called minimum waiting time (MWT) before non-destructive testing of the weld joints is allowed. Reason is the increased risk of time-delayed hydrogen assisted cold cracking as hydrogen diffusion is very slow due to the very thick plates. The strict consideration of those long MWT up to 48 h during the construction of OWTs leads to significant financial burden (like disproportionately high costs for installer ships as well as storage problems (onshore)). In this study, weld joints made of S355 ML were examined in comparison with the offshore steel grade S460 G2+M. The aim was to optimize, i.e., reduce, the MWT before NDT considering varied heat input, hydrogen concentration and using self-restraint weld tests. This would significantly reduce the manufacturing time and costs of OWT construction. To quantify the necessary delay time until hydrogen-assisted cold cracks appear, acoustic emission analysis was applied directly after welding for at least 48 h.
Martensitic 9 %-Cr steels like P91 and P92 show susceptibility to delayed hydrogen assisted cracking depending on their microstructure. In that connection, effective hydrogen diffusion coefficients are used to assess the possible time-delay. The small number of available diffusion coefficients varies already at room temperature by several orders of magnitude (mostly regarded as result of present microstructure). Especially P91 weld metal diffusion coefficients are rare so far. For that reason, electrochemical permeation experiments had been conducted using P92 base metal and P91 weld metal (in as-welded and heat-treated condition) with different thicknesses. The diffusion coefficients are calculated by two methods (time-lag and inflection point method) were performed. The results show that, despite of microstructural effects, the sample thickness must be considered as it influences the calculated diffusion coefficients. Finally, the comparison of calculated and measured hydrogen concentrations (determined by carrier gas hot extraction) enables the identification of realistic diffusion coefficients.
In the DECHEMA Virtual Talks, general aspects of the safety and acceptance of hydrogen technologies were presented. How can trust in new technologies be built when past accidents led to myths and fairy tales? The presentation does away with general prejudices and shows that handling hydrogen is neither more unsafe nor safer than handling other fuel gases. The basis for the safe handling of hydrogen is always a risk analysis.
This presentation deals with the influence of the counterface materials on the sliding behaviour of some polymer materials in hydrogen. Polyimide (PI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials were investigated against hardened 52100 martensitic bearing steel and 304 austenitic stainless steel with similar roughness (Ra = 0.2 μm). Results indicate that the friction and wear of PI and PEEK materials depend on the counterface material. This effect wasn’t observed for PTFE composites.
While the tribological performance of polyimide is better against 52100 in hydrogen, improved sliding behaviour of PEEK materials is observed with 304 counterface, particularly at higher sliding speed. Surface analyses of the transfer film reveal that the influence of the counterface is primarily related to the chemical nature of the steel for PI and to the thermal conductivity of the disc for PEEK materials.
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are characterized by a solid solution of minimum five and medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) of minimum three principal alloying elements in equiatomic proportions. They show exceptional application properties, such as high-strength and ductility or corrosion resistance. Future HEA/MEA-components could be exposed to hydrogen containing environments like vessels for cryogenic or high-pressure storage where the hydrogen absorption and diffusion in these materials is of interest. In our study, we investigated the HEA Co20Cr20Fe20Mn20Ni20 and the MEA Co33.3Cr33.3Ni33.3. For hydrogen ingress, cathodic charging was applied and diffusion kinetic was measured by high-resolution thermal desorption spectros-copy using different heating rates up to 0.250 K/s. Peak deconvolution resulted in high-temperature desorption peaks and hydrogen trapping above 280 °C. A total hydrogen concentration > 40 ppm was identified for the MEA and > 100 ppm for HEA. This indicates two important effects: (1) delayed hydrogen diffusion and (2) considerable amount of trapped hydrogen that must be anticipated for hydrogen assisted cracking phenomenon. Local electrochemical Volta potential maps had been measured for the hydrogen free condition by means of high-resolution Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM).
Hydrogen-charged supermartensitic steel samples were used to systematically investigate imaging artifacts in neutron radiography. Cadmium stencils were placed around the samples to shield the scintillator from excessive neutron radiation and to investigate the influence of the backlight effect. The contribution of scattered neutrons to the total detected intensity was investigated by additionally varying the sample-detector distance and applying a functional correlation between distance and intensity. Furthermore, the influence of the surface roughness on the edge effect due to refraction was investigated.
Hydrocarbons fuel our economy. Furthermore, intermediate goods and consumer products are often hydrocarbon-based. Beside all the progress they made possible, hydrogen-containing substances can have severe detrimental effects on materials exposed to them. Hydrogen-assisted failure of iron alloys has been recognised more than a century ago. The present study aims to providing further insight into the degradation of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L (EN 1.4307) exposed to hydrogen. To this end, samples were electrochemically charged with the hydrogen isotope deuterium (2H, D) and analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). It was found that deuterium caused a phase transformation from the original γ austenite into ε- and α’-martensite. Despite their low solubility for hydrogen, viz. deuterium, the newly formed phases showed high deuterium concentration which was attributed to the increased density of traps. Information about the behaviour of deuterium in the material subjected to external mechanical load was gathered. A four-point-bending device was developed for this purpose. This allowed to analyse in-situ pre-charged samples in the ToF-SIMS during the application of external mechanical load. The results indicate a movement of deuterium towards the regions of highest stress.