Thread: Hydrogen Embrittlement during Rust Removal

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Hydrogen embrittlement will only happen in the top layers of the parts unless it they are porous, and is generated at the surface of the metal where the electricity is making contact with the electrolyte. Industrial furnaces where hydrogen removal is practiced, operate up to 800 degrees C for 12 to 24 hours.

The cleaning process you talk about did not deposit metal did it?? If it did not then hydrogen embritlement would not be a real issue i dont think.

I am a metallurgist but dont specialise in this field of metallurgy so I can be corrected. One thing I do know is that corrosion can be an issue with electrolytic processes, so check any cracks or imperfections carefully before painting etc, as this would probably cause failure before hydrogen embrittlement.

Originally Posted by JL350

Hydrogen embrittlement will only happen in the top layers of the parts unless it they are porous, and is generated at the surface of the metal where the electricity is making contact with the electrolyte. Industrial furnaces where hydrogen removal is practiced, operate up to 800 degrees C for 12 to 24 hours.

The cleaning process you talk about did not deposit metal did it?? If it did not then hydrogen embritlement would not be a real issue i dont think.

I am a metallurgist but dont specialise in this field of metallurgy so I can be corrected. One thing I do know is that corrosion can be an issue with electrolytic processes, so check any cracks or imperfections carefully before painting etc, as this would probably cause failure before hydrogen embrittlement.

No. The rust is removed from the part being cleaned and ends up on the sacrificial anode (rebar,) but nothing is deposited on the part.