Improving the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of steels | Energy

Improving the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of steels

Background
What we're looking for
What we can offer you
Who we are
Q&A

Background

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a ubiquitous problem in austenitic stainless steels. Strain hardening is one way to address this issue.

Conventional austenitic stainless steel (SS) like 316L suffers from strain-induced martensite (SIM) when cold worked, making it vulnerable to HE. The National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) standard MR0175 prohibits any intentional cold work of 316L for sour service environments due to the risk of sulfide stress cracking (SSC), a form of HE.
Cold-worked non-magnetic stainless steels like Cr-Mn-N alloys show excellent HE resistance. However, there is lack of understanding if the cold work is beneficial or neutral or detrimental to HE resistance, hence a lack of standardized control.
Additively manufactured (AM) 316L is immune to strain-induced martensite (SIM) formation and shows better HE resistance than wrought 316L. The unique strain-hardening due to AM-induced dislocation network may be the reason. The effect is incidental, not controlled.
Industry is hesitant to adopt high strength SS without improved understanding of how different strain-hardening mechanisms interact with hydrogen, which would enable future standardization of materials and processing.
The scope of work involves fundamental research, limited to commercially strain-hardened materials, including cold-worked bars, and AM materials produced by blown powder (BH) and MELD manufacturing processes.

Additional Information:

Budgets must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate campus sponsored programs office prior to submission, if the applicant is a university employee.
Description of award vehicle: Award vehicle will be a subaward or other appropriate award instrument incorporating applicable NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions
Direct questions to Dr. Ashwith Chilvery, FUEL Director for Use Inspired Research and Development at achilver@xula.edu

What we're looking for

We are looking for proposals that will improve hydrogen embrittlement resistance of austenitic stainless steels by controlled strain hardening. We are targeting projects that could commence at the TRL 2 or TRL 3 level and get to TRL 4 in 12 months.

Our must-have requirements are:

The Proposer or PI applying for the opportunity must include how they would expect to collaborate with a corporate partner or local business
The Proposer or PI applying for the opportunity must include how they would expect to collaborate with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), or a historically underserved institution as a partner on their submission.
The proposal must state the role(s) and responsibilities of each partner.
The proposal must include a Sponsored Program Office approved Budget and Sponsored Program Office approved Budget Justification (attach to your proposal)
The proposal must include a letter of support or committment from the Authorized Organizational Representative AOR (attach to your proposal)

Our nice-to-have's are:

Successful proposals will describe clearly how the work aligns with the topic/RFP and the larger ENGINE mission
Successful proposals will explain both general and specific impacts that will result if the work succeeds
Successful proposals will describe why the team is well (or uniquely) suited or positioned to address the task
Successful proposals will describe how the requested funding level is commensurate with the proposed work
Successful proposals will describe how progress will be measured and a planned work timeline
Successful proposals will identify potential challenges and ways those will be addressed
Successful proposals will address how the work proposed, if successful, will impact Louisiana's workforce

Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):

Levels 1-4