We typically think of a chunk of metal as being solid and unchanging. Maybe you get a little oxidation on the outside surface, but everything stays the same inside, right? As Steve Mould explains in today’s video, in some applications, the situation isn’t that simple.
In particular, steel is vulnerable to hydrogen gas squeezing in between its atoms. When that happens, those hydrogen atoms can hook up with carbon inside the steel to form bubbles of methane that gradually grow and weaken the metal. Check out the video for the full explanation and a look at the non-destructive ultrasonic technique used to monitor industrial equipment where these bubbles can occur. (Video and image credit: S. Mould)
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