Steel Corrosion, Hydrogen Embrittlement, and Microstructural Engineering
This research community investigates how steel alloys degrade under corrosive environments and hydrogen exposure, focusing on how their internal crystal structures determine mechanical strength and failure resistance.
The work centers on stainless steels (austenitic, duplex, and martensitic grades), carbon steels, and high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels. Researchers examine specific degradation mechanisms, including stress corrosion cracking, pitting, and hydrogen embrittlement, often in the context of pipeline infrastructure and industrial applications. A significant portion of the literature analyzes the relationship between microstructural features—such as grain boundaries, precipitates, and phase transformations—and material performance. Methods include heat treatment optimization, surface modification, and the development of passive films to enhance resistance. The community also explores the impact of alloying elements like chromium, nickel, and manganese on these properties, as well as the behavior of welded joints and the influence of environmental factors like chloride concentration and temperature.
The largest share of this community's output is found in chromium research, representing 2.7% of all tracked chromium studies, with 2,742 papers in this group. Iron and hydrogen research also contribute significantly, with 7,435 and 10,144 papers respectively, though these represent smaller shares of their respective total research fields.
The community comprises 50,275 papers, publishing most frequently in Corrosion Science, Corrosion, and Tetsu-to-Hagane.
Recent work continues to focus on mitigating hydrogen embrittlement through surface modifications and barrier coatings, as well as optimizing the microstructure of high-strength steels for demanding applications like bridge cables and pipeline transport.