Contact person
Bo Rendahl
Senior specialist
Contact Bo
Hydrogen activity from atmospheric corrosion in high strength steels
To find means based on robust scientific data to prevent failure of ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) in light structure applications such as vehicles during service use, and thereby guarantee safety and sustainability, is the most important goal for the AtHyCor project. Another goal is to help develop testing guidelines for UHSS.
AtHyCor is one of 25 steel and coal research projects, supporting the European Green Deal, which received EU funding (Call: RFCS-2020). Full name of the project is AtHyCor: Modelling of hydrogen activity from atmospheric corrosion in ultra-high strength steels for light structure application.
Predict hydrogen assisted cracking risks
The project will tackle the problem with risk of hydrogen embrittlement of coated UHSS components exposed to atmospheric corrosion. The main objectives are to understand the link between atmospheric corrosion mechanisms and hydrogen. The project uses both experimental techniques and mechanistic models to analyze and predict hydrogen assisted cracking risks under atmospheric corrosion conditions.
With that knowledge the project will develop guidelines both in terms of methodology and risk, for the materials investigated in the project.
Simulation tool and guidelines
AtHyCor wants to explore the connection between atmospheric corrosion (in both accelerated corrosion tests and outdoor exposure) and hydrogen uptake/embrittlement and highlight the main parameters controlling hydrogen uptake under atmospheric corrosion conditions.
The project aims at producing robust scientific data, mechanistic-model simulation tools, and guidelines that will be shared with the scientific community and industry via available channels.
A model was developed within the COMSOL Multiphysics framework to simulate the atmospheric corrosion mechanism in thin film electrolyte. The model was developed to simulate the corrosion at cut edges of ultra-high strength steels protected with a zinc-based coating. It incorporated all the essential mechanisms to accurately predict corrosion product formation, surface pH distribution, hydrogen evolution reaction, and oxygen reduction reaction. Ultimately, it can be coupled with a hydrogen distribution model to evaluate hydrogen activity under atmospheric corrosion conditions. The model is available upon request to the project contacts and required up to date COMSOL software.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS): project num. 101057239.
Summary
Project name
AtHyCor
Status
Completed
RISE role in project
Institut de la Corrosion - coordinator, RISE - participant
Project start
Duration
3 years
Total budget
1 906 026 Euro
Partner
RISE, Institut de la Corrosion, ArcelorMittal, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Voestalpine
Funders
European Commission
Coordinators
Project members
