HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT IN A HIGH ENTROPY STAINLESS STEEL

• Grant number: 25/21122-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Falcão de Oliveira
• Grantee: Guilherme Ivo Santini
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) have attracted increasing interest due to their favorable combinations of high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and good corrosion resistance, making them promising for structural applications in harsh environments. Among the systems studied, multicomponent alloys based on the Fe-Cr-Ni-Co system have stood out for their versatile microstructures and tunable mechanical behavior depending on the phase fractions present. This study will investigate the Fe33.5Cr26Ni25Co10Si3Al2.5 alloy, subjected to electrochemical hydrogen charging for 24 hours in NaOH and H¿SO¿ solution under a constant current density of 50 mA/cm². After hydrogen exposure, tensile tests will be conducted to assess the impact of hydrogen embrittlement on the mechanical properties of the alloy. The results obtained under hydrogen-charged and uncharged conditions will be compared, enabling a deeper understanding of hydrogen's influence on this HEA system and contributing to the development of embrittlement-resistant alloys for applications involving hydrogen storage, production, and transportation.