All about Hydrogen

The project HyWay aims to promote the design of advanced materials that maintain outstanding mechanical properties while mitigating the impact of hydrogen by developing flexible, efficient tools for multiscale material modelling and characterization. These efficient material assessment suites integrate data-driven approaches, advanced characterization, multiscale modelling, and ontology-based knowledge management seamlessly, revealing hydrogen-material interactions in storage and transport conditions. more

Hydrogen embrittlement remains a strong obstacle to the durability of high-strength structural materials, compromising their performance and longevity in critical engineering applications. Of particular relevance is the effect of mobile and trapped hydrogen at interfaces, such as grain and phase boundaries, since they often determine the material’s performance and can be embrittled by hydrogen enhanced decohesion (HEDE). This study focuses on dual-phase (DP) steels, where ferrite-martensite interfaces play a crucial role in hydrogen embrittlement. Hydrogen absorption triggers complex interactions at these interfaces on the nano- and micro-scale; however, existing studies, especially those addressing the behavior of both mobile and trapped hydrogen, have yielded inconclusive outcomes. more

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in critical applications due to their low density, high specific strength, and excellent corrosion resistance, but their poor plasticity at room temperature limits broader utilization. Introducing hydrogen as a temporary alloying element has been shown to improve plasticity during high-temperature processing, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. more

Hydrogen embrittlement is one of the most substantial issues as we strive for a greener future by transitioning to a hydrogen-based economy. The mechanisms behind material degradation caused by hydrogen embrittlement are poorly understood owing to the elusive nature of hydrogen. Therefore, in the project "In situ Hydrogen Platform for Microstructural Analysis and Mechanical Performance of Materials (HMMM)”, we aim to create a state-of-the-art, all-in-one platform to look more closely into the interactions of hydrogen and the material by utilizing real-time, high-resolution characterization methods. more

In this project, the effects of scratch-induced deformation on the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility in pearlite is investigated by in-situ nanoscratch test during hydrogen charging, and atomic scale characterization. This project aims at revealing the interaction mechanism between hydrogen and scratch-induced deformation in pearlite. more

The project Hydrogen Embrittlement Protection Coating (HEPCO) addresses the critical aspects of hydrogen permeation and embrittlement by developing novel strategies for coating and characterizing hydrogen permeation barrier layers for valves and pumps used for hydrogen storage and transport applications. more

Max Planck scientists design a process that merges metal extraction, alloying and processing into one single, eco-friendly step. Their results are now published in the journal Nature. more

Hydrogen is a clean energy source as its combustion yields  only water and heat. However, as hydrogen prefers to accumulate in the concentrated stress region of metallic materials, a few ppm Hydrogen can already cause the unexpected sudden brittle failure, the so-called “hydrogen embrittlement”. The difficulties in directly tracking hydrogen limits the analysis to post-mortem probes ignoring hydrogen migration before and during testing, leading to debates about the governing mechanisms. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of hydrogen-metal interaction with microstructural features is necessary to prevent hydrogen-introduced damage and further contribute insights into developing hydrogen-resistant materials. more

International research team develops steel for liquid gas transport and storage. Results now published in the journal Science. more

The atomic arrangements in extended planar defects in different types of Laves phases is studied by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. To understand the role of such defect phases for hydrogen storage, their interaction with hydrogen will be investigated. more

An economical process with green hydrogen can be used to extract CO₂-free iron from the red mud generated in aluminium production more

Dr. Rasa Changizi explains the behaviour of hydrogen in metals and how to avoid its risks, in a short video. more

Max Planck materials scientists use ammonia for sustainable iron- and steelmaking. They publish their latest findings in the Journal Advanced Science
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New video explains the benefits of ammonia as hydrogen carrier and reduction material for iron ores more

In this EU Horizon project, we at MPIE, will focus on the sustainable pre-reduction of manganese ores with hydrogen, especially the kinetic analysis of the reduction process using thermogravimetry analysis and an in-depth understand the role of microstructure and local chemistry in the reduction process.
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New video explains strategies to counteract crack propagation in aluminum more

Start of a collaborative research project on the sustainable production of manganese and its alloys being funded by European Union with 7 million euros more

New video explains how green hydrogen is produced more

Steel is the dominant metallic material. The production per year is 1.8 billion tons, of which 30% can be produced out of recycled melted scrap. The huge rest amount has to be newly produced from oxide minerals reduced by CO in blast furnaces, followed by partial removal of C by O₂ in converters. The CO₂ emission of these two processes is enormous,  approx. 2.1 tons of CO₂ per 1 ton of steel. Steel making thus becomes the largest single greenhouse gas emitter worldwide (~ 8% of all emissions). ROC is intensively involved in basic research needed to drastically cut down these CO₂ emissions, by up tp 80% and beyond. This is the biggest single leverage we have to fight global warming.
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Prof. Dierk Raabe, director at the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, wins ERC Advanced Grant more