Hydrogen will continue to a major role in in achieving climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry and long-distance transportation. Blending hydrogen with natural gas presents several challenges with materials compatibility in pipelines and compressors. Minimal research has been explored in the potential to apply corrosion inhibitors to prevent hydrogen damage, and this paper details the methods and procedures used to demonstrate their effectiveness at mitigating damage from hydrogen cracking and embrittlement.

The present work uses electrochemical techniques and surface analysis to evaluate the ability of filming corrosion inhibitors to block the permeation of hydrogen into the metal surface. Coupons with high yield strength are charged with hydrogen by the application of cathodic potentials in the range where hydrogen absorption occurs with and without the use of filming corrosion inhibitors. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy is used to monitor the hydrogen desorption of the charged coupons by the application of potential at higher temperature to accelerate the process. At the conclusion of the experiment, hardness measurements were taken to correlate them with the loss of ductility.