OCAS: Metallurgy Department

General expertise of the research group

Applied research and development of materials. Supported by a state-of-the-art lab, OCAS can perform decent metallurgical investigations and testing of materials in different environments with the ability to closely represent the operational circumstances. Solving questions of customers about material compatibility considering degradation, design life and safety aspects. Ranking of candidate materials, material selection and risk mitigation.

Specific hydrogen- related expertise & research topics

• Applied R&D on the interaction between hydrogen and materials.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the metallurgical phenomena.
• Testing, standard and non-standard test equipment, for determination and understanding of  the effect of hydrogen on the material performance under specific conditions and w/o loading: unloaded, static or dynamic loading.
• Determination of the behaviour of a material in an environment with presence of hydrogen at certain operating conditions.
• Modelling of interaction between hydrogen and materials by empirical testing and numerical simulations.
• Models to optimise production processes, maintenance schedules and prediction of material/component lifetime in a hydrogen environment.
• Failure analysis. During such an analysis, investigation tries to clarify material damage, component failure due to hydrogen-related degradation mechanisms. Expertise on damage triggers such as hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen induced cracking
• Material compatibility concerns. Advise on material selection, material degradation, corrosion and coating related to hydrogen. This advice may result in a dedicated material program that demonstrates material compatibility with respect to a certain goal. Notified bodies can be involved in such examinations
• Hydrogen testing in sour environment (OCAS dedicated H2S lab, NACE testing, qualification)
• National and international exchange on R&D, organisation of a series of international conferences Steelyhydrogen – 5th edition to be defined

Available equipment/tools:

• All analytical equipment for measuring hydrogen content, in and through materials. OCAS is accredited for a series of analyses and qualified to work with deuterium.
  • Equipment for charging: electrolytical or autoclave
  • Equipment for H determination (hot and melt extraction)
  • Equipment for H diffusion and permeation
  • Thermal desorption
  • Equipment for Microstructural investigation
• Mechanical testing:
  • Constant load
  • Slow and high strain rate testing
  • Disc rupture testing
  • Fracture mechanics
  • Fatigue testing Equipment for NACE testing (H2S)

Participating in FL/B/EU funded projects with H2 related research:

•  Open to collaborate in funded projects
• FORGE – Development of novel coating materials for a sustainable future (Evaluation of hydrogen pick up and hydrogen embrittlement) – H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2018-2020.
• HYDRO-REAL – Study the sensitivity of ultra-high strength cold rolled steels to hydrogen embrittlement – RFCS-02-2019
• INiTiAl – Advanced implementation of novel corrosion resistant high strength maraging steels with improved process robustness via tuned intermetallic nano-precipitation – RFCS-02-2017
• Charge & Load – Hydrogen embrittlement and delayed fracture of advanced multiphase highstrength steels – RFSR-CT-2006-00025
• HYDRAMICROS – Hydrogen sensitivity of different advanced high strength microstructures – RFSRCT – 2010-00020
• SUPERHIGH – In-use properties of Super High strength steels generated by a range of metallurgical strategies RFCS-PR-12161
• NOHENTRY – Reuse of existing pipeline systems for H2 transport via surface functionalisations inhibiting Hydrogen entry – ETF 2021
• SAFEH2PIPE – Guidelines for material selection and qualification for safe transportation of H2-NG mixtures in EU pipelines – RFCS 2022
• HYWAY – Multiscale Characterisation and Simulation for Hydrogen Embrittlement Assessment: Development of an Open Knowledge Platform to Foster Capability Integration – HORIZON-CL4-2023
• PILGRHYM – Pre-normative research on integrity assessment protocols of gas pipes repurposed to Hydrogen and mitigation guidelines – HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2023
• FEATHER – Steel For nExt generATion H2 cylindERs – RFCS 2022

International collaborations:

• OCAS mainly works on a bilateral agreement between national or international customers. Different extends are possible, from a single measurement up to a dedicated research program. OCAS aims to accelerate the R&D at the customer, giving support by sharing competences and specific equipment.

Main relevant publications

1. Investigation of hydrogen trapping in retained austenite via deuterium charging at high temperature. L Moli-Sanchez, Z Zermout, L Duprez. Proceedings 3rd International Conference on Metals and Hydrogen, May 2018, Ghent, Belgium
2. Hydrogen embrittlement of 4 martensitic steels with strength levels above 1000 MPa. L. MoliSanchez, Z. Zermout, L. Duprez, L. Malet. (Proceedings SteelyHydrogen 2014)
3. Effect of in-situ hydrogen charging on the mechanical properties of advanced high strength steels. T. Depover, D. Pérez Escobar, E. Wallaert, Z. Zermout. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Vol. 39 (2014) pp. 4647–4656
4. Hydrogen embrittlement in various steels with strength levels above 1000 MPa. L Duprez, M Arafin, F Van den Abeele, N Bernier. Joint HYDROGENIUS and I2CNER International Workshop on Hydrogen – Materials Interactions 2012 Kyushu University
5. Combined thermal desorption spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction study of hydrogen trapping in cold deformed TRIP steel. D. Perez Escobar, T. Depover, L Duprez, K. Verbeken and M. Verhaege. (2012) ACTA MATERIALIA. 60(6-7). p.2593-2605
6. Thermal desorption spectroscopy study of the interaction between hydrogen and different microstructural constituents in lab cast Fe-C alloys. D. Pérez Escobar, T. Depover, E. Wallaert, L. Duprez, M. Verhaege, K. Verbeken. Corrosion Science. Vol. 65 (2012) pp. 199-208
7. Evaluation of hydrogen trapping in high strength steels by thermal desorption spectroscopy. D. Perez Escobar, K Verbeken, L Duprez, M Verhaege (2012) MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING. 551. p.50-58
8. Internal and surface damage of multiphase steels and pure iron after electrochemical hydrogen charging. D Perez Escobar, C Minambres, L Duprez, K Verbeken, M Verhaege (2011) CORROSION SCIENCE. 53(10). p.3166-3176
9. Selecting hydrogen embrittlement resistant materials by means of the disc rupture test. Elke Leunis, Lode Duprez. 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2010, Essen / Germany