In-situ neutron imaging of hydrogen in high strength martensitic steel
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan - Institutionen för Teknisk Mekanik, Hållfasthetslära |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 399 000 |
| Project duration | May 2020 - December 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration |
| Call | Increasing PhD students' competence in neutron- and synchroton-based analysis methods in industry - spring 2020 |
| End-of-project report | 2020-00829_KTH-PhD Armin Halilovic o David Lindblom.pdf (pdf, 297 kB) |
Important results from the project
The main aim of this project was to investigate whether neutron transmission imaging can be used to detect spatially resolved concentrations of hydrogen (H) in steel. The purpose behind the investigation is the industrially highly relevant problem of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) where even minute amounts of H in steel will have a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties. Preliminary data from a successfully performed experiment at the Neutron and X-ray Tomography (NeXT) experimental station of Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble seems to indicate that the proposed method can detect H in steel under operationally relevant condition
Expected long term effects
The scientific results have the potential to significantly improve the understanding, and thus also prevention, of the undesirable phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement. The project has measured a local hydrogen concentration in front of a crack tip and also got a detailed measurement of crack propagation during hydrogen embrittlement. In addition, two PhD students and a researcher have gained experience in all aspects of planning and conducting experiments at a neutron facility, which contributes to the competence in Sweden concerning large-scale research infrastructures.
Approach and implementation
The project was divided into 5 work packages. The first was to write beam time proposals. The second was to prepare the test set-up and verify it at KTH. The third work package was the actual beam time with in-situ measurements. The fourth concerned data analysis, and finally a work package for reporting/disseminating the results. The work packages follow the order in which we have worked. It has worked very well. However, due to Covid-19, the implementation of the project was delayed and the last work package has not been completed yet.