Session: Gaseous Hydrogen Embrittlement (Part I of II)
Cost-effective pack nitriding for preventing gaseous hydrogen embrittlement in Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel 316L (C2026-00058)
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Central
Location: 381 AB
Earn .5 PDH
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Gerardo Gamboa, Ali Babakr, Seifollah Nasrazadani, Marcus Young
Additively manufactured (AM) materials are quickly becoming integrated into industrial oil and gas applications because AM allows for faster prodution and unique design capabilities. However, AM materials have not yet been standardized for approval yet with concerns over performance requiring further verification. Specifically, AM SS316L has been observed to be susceptible to gaseous hydrogen embrittlement (HE) due to microstructural features and defects resulting in a loss of ductility and increase in yield strength. This work aims to prevent HE by using a cost-effective pack nitride layer to act as a diffusion barrier coating against hydrogen diffusion without significantly affecting the enhanced mechanical properties of AM 316L to conventional 316L. Pack nitriding reduced the initial ductility of coated AM 316L by 20% and increased the yield strength by approximately 15% before being soaked in hydrogen. No changes in were seen in coated or uncoated AM 316L in 50/50 blends, however, in 100% hydrogen, the coated AM 316L showed no change still while the uncoated AM 316L showed a significant decrease in ductility and an increase in yield strength. Linear polarization tests were also performed to ensure the corrosion resistance of the material was not affected by the pack nitriding process.
