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Investigation and modelling of Hydrogen effusion in electrochemically plated ultra-high-strength-steels used for landing gear structures

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Ensuring that corrosion resistance does not increase the brittleness of steels

Metals remain an important structural material to meet the rigorous requirements of industries including aerospace, military, mining and automotive. In recent years, ultra-high-strength steels have been gaining traction. However, processes increasing the mechanical strength of a steel increase its susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement, a degradation in properties due to the presence of hydrogen. Application of corrosion-resistant coatings is one technique linked to embrittlement. The EU-funded H2Free project will enhance our understanding of both the steels and the coatings to gain insight into hydrogen intake due to coating, creating opportunities to enhance the efficiency of processes that reduce it.

Objective

One drawback associated to Ultra High Strength Steels (UHSS) coated components is the risk of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and delayed hydrogen fracture of the part. This problem has been tackled by developing LHE (Low HE) processes and by applying a degassing stage. The standard degassing process is applied equally to the components regardless UHSS or coating composition/morphology. However, it is known that the nature and structure of both the base material and the coating have a great influence in the hydrogen intake and degassing efficiency. Thus, there is much room for improvement if a better understanding of the underlying phenomena of electrochemically deposited corrosion protection layers of UHSS parts on hydrogen degassing is achieved.
As there are no experimental techniques to measure hydrogen content or HE in a specific part of a real component at an industrial environment, modelling and simulation approaches, developed with a strong experimental base, are expected to provide the keys to process improvement.
The main objective of the H2Free project is to develop a practical guideline for hydrogen degassing of UHS-steels plated with LHE-Zn-Ni, with the aim of saving production costs and allowing Zn-Ni to overtake Cd coatings. The guideline will contain simple rules/formulas to provide criteria to design the degassing process, based on experimental data and on modelling to predict the hydrogen effusion in coated UHSS, the remaining hydrogen concentration in the components and so the probability of hydrogen embrittlement. With its digital approach, H2Free will accelerate materials modelling uptake into European industrial decision making and link all partners to central European materials modelling platforms and activities.
The project brings together a strong consortium composed of 4 outstanding research centres and 2 SMEs with complementary profiles and large expertise, covering the special skills, capabilities and certification expected for the project.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-CS2-CFP11-2020-01

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Funding Scheme

CS2-RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

FUNDACION CIDETEC
Net EU contribution
€ 202 891,25
Address
Paseo miramon 196 parque tecnologico de miramon
20014 San sebastian
Spain

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Region
Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (5)

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EC signature date 1 December 2020
Last update: 15 September 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101007712

European Union, 2023