| Abstract Scope |
The presence of hydrogen in steel can lead to catastrophic early fractures, a phenomenon known as hydrogen embrittlement. To control and reduce this issue, it is crucial to observe hydrogen and its effects within the microstructure of the steel, ideally in 3 dimensions with high precision. However, the lightness and high mobility of hydrogen make it difficult to detect using electron-based microscopy and challenging to locate while it remains diffusible. My research thus focuses on developing and applying cryogenic atom probe tomography (cryo-APT), a 3D mass spectrometry technique that offers both high sensitivity to hydrogen and the capability to "freeze" hydrogen for detailed observations. This approach has yielded new insights into how hydrogen becomes trapped and causes embrittlement in steel, supporting the development of steel microstructures with improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. |