Helium dilution effect on hydrogen permeation in 316L stainless steel and nickel-base heat-resistant alloys

Effects of inert-gas dilution on hydrogen permeation have been investigated in 316L stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel 750, Nimonic 80A and Hastelloy X at 1173 K and 1073 K, by employing a gas-flow system. We used gas mixtures of hydrogen and helium, whose hydrogen concentration ranged from 10-5 to 10-1. For the steady-state permeation, the dilution of hydrogen caused no anomalous effects and the permeation rate conformed to Sieverts' law. However, for the transient state, the hydrogen permeation was retarded by the dilution with helium. The retardation effect is discussed in terms of an adsorption model and explained by a decrease in sticking probability at the alloy surface with the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen. (orig.)