Hydrogen embrittlement of 3-D printing manufactured austenitic stainless steel part for hydrogen service

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology as the emerging future manufacturing technology can be applied to the hydrogen service including hydrogen energy utilized industry. Direct metal tooling (DMT), one of the 3-D printing technologies, was used to manufacture an austenitic stainless steel part, and its mechanical properties and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior were studied using the small specimen test technique under 10-MPa pressurized hydrogen gas. This part showed high HE resistance with minimal strain-induced transformation of austenite to martensite. This result indicates that parts produced using DMT are suitable for use in facilities for hydrogen service and hydrogen infrastructure.