ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

This is a page describing data taken during an experiment at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. Information about the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source can be found at https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk.


Local Hydrogen Content in Steel Visualized by Energy-resolved Neutron Imaging

Abstract: Visualizing hydrogen distributions via neutron imaging allows for quantification and a better interpretation of the processes involved in hydrogen embrittlement (HE)-assisted fatigue crack growth in austenitic stainless steels. Hydrogen is identified from the transmission intensities in both charged and uncharged samples. A gradient of hydrogen within the samples depending on outward diffusion of hydrogen with time is going to be considered. From the last experiment, determination of contrast variation with hydrogen content variation using low density polyethylene has been made. Once the detection limits on IMAT have been established, local hydrogen detection ahead of crack tips will be examined and correlated to fatigue crack growth rates (FCGRs). Samples strained (compared against uncharged sample also strain reference) and unstrained are considered for this purpose to understand the effect of straining, thus facilitating an understanding of the relationship between H concentration and FCGRs in steel, while placing in an aluminium cell and blowing nitrogen gas to avoid moisture. A major aspect of this methodical study is to utilize energy-resolved neutron imaging for detection of hydrogen in steel. Correlation of Bragg edge transmission at shorter neutron wavelengths with imaging beyond the Bragg edge cutoff of steel will allow optimizing hydrogen contrast. The outcome of this experiment will advance our mechanistic understanding of hydrogen transport and storage.

Principal Investigator: Dr Niall Smyth
Local Contact: Dr Winfried Kockelmann
Experimenter: Professor Michael Fitzpatrick
Experimenter: Dr Mingwen Bai
Experimenter: Mr Soumyadeep Datta

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510335

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2510335

Part DOI Instrument Public release date Download Link
10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510335-1 IMAT 21 March 2028 Download

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
Select the data format above to find out more about it.

Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Niall Smyth et al; (2025): Local Hydrogen Content in Steel Visualized by Energy-resolved Neutron Imaging , STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510335

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.



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