Fourth year student in Materials
Steel, the most widely used alloy in the world, is dramatically susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. Hydrogen causes cracking of alloys much below their fracture strength, leading to critical safety issues and financial losses for the bearing, nuclear and petroleum industries. The mechanical performance of hydrogen-resistant steels has recently reached a plateau due to their crystal structures’ inherent limits. My Ph.D. investigates a new structure, bainite, which can outperform commercial alloys. Two microstructural features inducing hydrogen resistance in bainite have been identified: a tortuous austenitic structure and carbides that trap hydrogen. This research could inaugurate a new class of hydrogen-resistant steels.
The photo shows Prof. H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia colecting the award on behalf of Joachim Dias
Find out about the winners awarded in previous years: