Hydrogen Induced Cracking

By:
Sukma Suci Friandani (3334131140)
11/11/2015

Outline
Definition
Causes
Mechanism
Prevention
Case Study
Conclusion
References

11/11/2015

What is hydrogen induced cracking ??

11/11/2015

Hydrogen absorbed
in metal

What causes hydrogen induced cracking?

11/11/2015

Mechanism

Corrosive environment

Thickness

Blister
Straight crack
Stepwise crack
Atmosphere
Hydrogen Induced Cracking

Source of atomic hydrogen

H2S
2H++ S211/11/2015

Mechanism

11/11/2015

Mechanism
Diffusion
Fe + 2H +

Fe2+

+ 2H0
2H0

H2

Accumulation in the
void

Linking of voids to form

cracks
11/11/2015

Prevention
Material Selection
Baking steels at low temperature
(100 C -150 C)
Reduce corrosion rate (addition of
inhibitors)
Coating (Zn, Cd)
Alloying
11/11/2015

Case Study
At Saudi Aramco Gas Processing Plant processes
wet sour gas streams and produces dry sweet sales
gas in addition Natural Gas Liquid (NGL). NGL
is Hydrocarbons in natural gas that are separated
from the gas as liquids through the process of
absorption, condensation, adsorption, or other
methods in gas processing or cycling plants. It
is not commercially sold, and is generally used to
produce petrochemicals and plastics.

11/11/2015

Case Study

11/11/2015

10

Condition At Saudi Aramco Gas Processing Plant

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration is ranging
from 2-41 mol% which equivalent to 20,000410,000 ppm of H2S.
Pipes were fabricated by non HIC resistant
material.
Present of element sulfur in the streams.
Temperature ranging from 120-280 F.
Present of free water in the fluid stream.

11/11/2015

11

Conclusion
Hydrogen-Induced Cracking (HIC) is the stepwise
internal cracks that connect adjacent hydrogen blisters on
different planes in the metal, or to the metal surface. It is
also known as stepwise cracking.

The mechanism starts with the atomic hydrogen

combines to form molecular hydrogen and forms rows of
small blisters. The pressure inside the blisters continues
to build up as more H atoms combine to form hydrogen
molecules. Blisters are formed at varying depths which
link together to form cracks. The cracks formed by
bulging of the blisters are parallel to the surface along the
original lamination generate in various depths and finally
connected together. The cracks may reach the surface and
the metal fails
11/11/2015

12

Conclusion
HIC can be prevented by material selection,
baking steels at low temperature (100-150C),
minimizing hydrogen content, reduce corrosion
rate , coating (Zn, Cd) and alloying.

11/11/2015

13

References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Encyclopedia
Turnbull, Alan. Hydrogen Transport &
Cracking in Metals. Cambridge, UK.
The Institute of Materials, 1995
https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition
/649/hydrogen-induced-cracking-hic
http://www.corrosionclinic.com/types_of_c
orrosion/hydrogeninduced_cracking_HIC.htm
https://inspectioneering.com/tag/hydroge
n+induced+cracking
http://jolisfukyu.tokaisc.jaea.go.jp/fukyu/mirai
en
/
2013/11_1.html
11/11/2015

14

Thank
you

11/11/2015

15

The difference between hydrogen and hydrogen induced cracking :

Hydrogen damage is encountered in many steel processes, such as
pickling, electroplating and welding. One essential contributing
feature of hydrogen damage to welds is that mobile hydrogen, by
virtue of its very increased solubility and diffusivity through steel at
elevated temperatures, is generated at a relatively high
concentration in certain regions of the weldment (the heat affected
zone). As the weldment cools, the solubility decreases, and so the
activity of this mobile hydrogen increases. However, HIC during
steel service does not normally involve the cooling of steel after
exposure to hydrogen at high temperatures. Usually, active, aqueous
acid corrosion by hydrogen promoters, the weak acid hydrides of P,
As, Sb, S, Se, Te and F causes atomic hydrogen to enter the steel at
extremely high activities. The gaseous hydrogen pressure required
to generate the hydrogen in steel concentrations generated by
promoters would need to be over one million bar. No wonder steel
can be susceptible to hydrogen cracking. The most important
hydrogen promoter industrially, and probably the most vigorous are
H2S and sour gas.
11/11/2015

16

Question : What is baking process to prevent hydrogen induced

cracking? (Dea Anggraheni Pusparasmi)
Answer : Baking or known as de-embrittlement is used to overcome
the weaknesses of methods such as electroplating which introduce
hydrogen to the metal, but is not always entirely effective. The deembrittlement or baking shall commence as soon as possible,
preferably within one hour but not later than three hours after plating
has been performed. The exact time and temperature of the bake is
not specified, but times between 2 and 24 hours at temperatures
between 350F and 450F are listed as suitable depending on type,
size of fastener, geometry and other variables.

11/11/2015

17