Modelización de la fisuración inducida por hidrógeno en aceros soldables aleados para tuberías y reactores en presencia de gas ácido

Resumo

A great deal of resources are currently being invested in hydrogen technology as an energy source. Thus, hydrogen fuel cells are being manufactured, large networks of hydrogen supply stations for vehicles are being designed, and gas pipelines longer than 1.000 km are being built. It is known that hydrogen affects metallic materials, especially steel, reducing their mechanical properties and, therefore, the structural behaviour of components made of these materials. For these reasons, the scientific community and companies are interested in the development of steels capable of containing or transporting hydrogen and guaranteeing the stability of its mechanical properties in environments with high concentrations of hydrogen, also subjected in some cases, to very high pressure and temperature conditions. To achieve this goal, it is essential to model Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC), which is the phenomenon that describes the embrittlement and the cracking initiation at a local level, and which ends up causing the global decrease in the mechanical properties of the material, for its latter application to components design. The foregoing will make it possible to economically optimize the design of the relevant infrastructures that are being built, also ensuring that they provide service in safer conditions and during a longer time.