Susceptibility of SUS304 Steel to Hydrogen Embrittlement in High-pressure Hydrogen Gas at 250°C

Abstract

The hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of SUS304 steel in high-pressure hydrogen (H₂) gas at 250°C was studied using the slow strain rate testing (SSRT) in high-temperature and high-pressure H₂ gas. In high-pressure H₂ gas, SUS304 (UNS S30400) steel showed clear susceptibility to embrittlement at room temperature (RT), but very low one at 250°C, that was the same level with SUS316L (UNS S31603) steel at RT. This suggests SUS304 steel would be utilized as a substitute of SUS316L, which has been conventionally used for the equipment or the piping to handle high-pressure H₂ gas.