The new stainless steel, HRX19TM, for use in high pressure hydrogen environments has been developed by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), the global steel producer. HRX19TM has already been used for heat exchangers, joints and valves of commercial use in hydrogen stations.
The new grade is a high-strength austenitic stainless steel and is manufactured under conditions of full integration from raw materials procurement to final processing, enabling NSSMC to guarantee quality. HRX19TM has three distinctive features:
1. Excellent resistance to hydrogen gas embrittlement: It has a level of additive nickel similar to Type 316L and amounts of manganese and chromium, which are cheaper elements than nickel that raise the Ni equivalent.
2. High strength: About twice as strong as Type 316L so stations can be designed with thinner walls.
3. Excellent weldability: HRX19TM can be welded and the weld can have the same level of high strength and hydrogen gas embrittlement resistance as the welded metal.