Shield or gateway? When hydrogen meets steel
Dübendorf, 25.09.2025 — Hydrogen damages steels. High-strength steels, particularly those used to construct bridges, high-rise buildings and oil and gas infrastructure, are susceptible to embrittlement caused by atomic hydrogen coming from the environment. The complex mechanisms behind this are not yet fully understood. Native oxide films on steel can act as barriers to block hydrogen from entering the steel workpiece. Empa researchers want to investigate the interaction of hydrogen with the thin oxides on steel with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.
