Masaki Egami

Study on Mechanism of Hydrogen Generation from Lubricants

To establish fundamental countermeasures for hydrogen embrittlement that occurs to several kinds of bearings, the mechanism of hydrogen generation from lubricants was studied. Sliding tests were conducted, and the amount of hydrogen generated from several kinds of lubricants during sliding was measured. It is concluded that the lubricant is decomposed and hydrogen is generated through a catalytic reaction with the fresh steel surface. The amount of hydrogen generated from each lubricant depends on its lubricity, not on its chemical structure. It is also confirmed that the lubricant with the larger wear brings more generated hydrogen into steel. Based on the above mechanism of hydrogen generation, methods of inhibiting hydrogen brittle flaking with additives were investigated. It is clarified that the addition of corrosion inhibitors that form a passive state film on the steel surface effectively inhibits generation of hydrogen from lubricants and penetration of hydrogen into steel. Presented at the STLE Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada May 15-19, 2005 Review led by Lois Gschwender