How to prevent hydrogen embrittlement?

Hydrogen embrittlement is largely unpredictable, and efforts to avoid it must start at the design stage to determine the characteristics of the part and the subsequent manufacturing process.

Avoiding hydrogen generation during manufacturing and hydrogen absorption by fasteners eliminates the risk of hydrogen embrittlement failure from the manufacturing process. Hydrogen embrittlement caused by environmental corrosion can be avoided by appropriately choosing surface treatments that do not generate hydrogen.

Feasible solutions include:

Mechanical galvanizing

Dacromet

Jumet

Delta Protekt chrome-free coating

Xylan 1014/1400/1424 coating

Hydrogen embrittlement only occurs on high-strength fasteners. If the application conditions permit, when the manufacturer cannot remove hydrogen, fasteners with a hardness lower than 320HV should be selected.

When conditions permit, pickling should be avoided as much as possible. When it cannot be avoided, the soaking time for pickling should be reduced to the shortest possible time. Pickling solutions should always contain an inhibitor component. When high-strength fasteners must be used and hydrogen cannot be completely removed during the manufacturing process, and hydrogen is absorbed into the fasteners, such as pickling and electroplating, the subsequent hydrogen removal baking process becomes critical. , this process can reduce risks and is called dehydrogenation.