×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

(OP)
Looking across the industry I find that high pressure bottle manifolds for hydrogen delivery are constructed from brass. Does anyone know of a reason why stainless steel can not be used in place of hydrogen? I've read some place that the removal of carbon from the steel creates voids into which the hydrogen diffuses and for some reason weakens it. Has anyone heard of this?

RE: High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

According to my Swagelok Manual, 316 SST has actually better corrosion resistance than brass when used for (cold) hydrogen gas service. You may need to check the seal material, though (TFE is good).

Brass is probably common due to its lower cost.

    . . . Steve
 

RE: High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

Austenitic stainless steel is resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, which would be the only reason to be wary. Using a stable grade, like 316, is preferred. If temperatures exceed 100C, stick to copper-based materials becasue of the risk of hydrogen problems.
 You can use ferritic stainless if hardness is kept below 100 Rb.

RE: High Pressure Manifold Material (Brass vs. SS)

(OP)
Thankyou to ICman and mcguire. Materials engineering at my place of business have confimed mcguire's input.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources