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Glass bead blasting of hardened steel causing hydrogen embrittlement

 

Help !

Does glass bead blasting with shop air of AMS5120 steel that has been oil quenched/hardened to HRC 40-45 cause any concern for hydrogen embrittlement to occur?

I would greatly appreciate all comments......

Jack Howerton
- Naples, Florida

As stated-Absolutely not! Now, you might cause some other problem that we were not provided enough information to rule out. Even that will be remote if you are exercising normal precautions.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Jack:

Where do you think the source of your concerns will come from? Neither glass nor compressed air have hydrogen free ions. How can they possibly cause hydrogen embrittlement?

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

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If glass bead blasting causes any hydrogen embrittlement it would almost certainly be a first! However, you may be getting some effect on the surface from the mechanical action of the blasting but I doubt that any H.M.B.is occurring.

Regards,

McIlvena Patrick William
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

No. It will actually help in relieving hydrogen embrittlement.

Chris Snyder
plater - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Hello Jack!

The short answer is no.

The longer answer starts with "How could it?" Yes, AISI 1074 steel (aka AMS 5120) is susceptible to HE at hardnesses of HRC 40-45, but you need a source of hydrogen ions. Ions, not gas- you could blow room temperature hydrogen gas at it until the cows come home with no embrittlement effect.

Of course, it won't do anything to HELP you relieve the embrittlement, either.

Good luck!

Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York