Blogs Home / Blogs HIC, SSCC and SOHIC HIC, SSCC, and SOHIC are different types of hydrogen-induced damage that can occur in metals, particularly in steel. Here is a table comparing their characteristics: Causes Hydrogen absorbed during production, operations, or exposure to corrosive environments containing H2S Mechanism Hydrogen atoms migrate to regions of high stress, combine to form molecular hydrogen, and create pressure, leading to cracks Crack Orientation Random, stepwise pattern, typically in the direction of the metal’s rolling plane Microstructure Affected Typically affects the metal at or near the mid-thickness, following the rolling plane Prevention Proper material selection, controlling H2S levels, using low hydrogen welding techniques, and applying coatings or inhibitors Causes Exposure to sour environments containing H2S; the presence of sulfides in the steel microstructure Mechanism Corrosive hydrogen atoms react with metal sulfides, leading to the formation of cracks under the influence of applied or residual stress Crack Orientation Can be intergranular or transgranular, but often propagate in the direction of applied or residual stress Microstructure Affected Can affect any part of the metal’s microstructure Prevention Material selection, controlling H2S levels, using low hydrogen welding techniques, stress relief heat treatment, and applying coatings or inhibitors Causes A combination of hydrogen absorption and stress, often in H2S-containing environments Mechanism Hydrogen atoms collect along the planes of residual or applied stress, resulting in the development of cracks oriented parallel to the stress direction Crack Orientation Cracks are oriented parallel to the direction of applied or residual stress, often forming multiple crack layers Microstructure Affected Primarily affects the mid-thickness of the metal, similar to HIC, but can propagate deeper through the material Prevention Material selection, controlling H2S levels, using low hydrogen welding techniques, stress relief heat treatment, and applying coatings or inhibitors Tamás Hám-Szabó Founder of SAAS First – the Best AI and Data-Driven Customer Engagement ToolWith 11 years in SaaS, I’ve built MillionVerifier and SAAS First. Passionate about SaaS, data, and AI. Let’s connect if you share the same drive for success!Share with your community! Facebook Twitter Youtube Youtube In this article HIC, SSCC and SOHIC Importance of Life Cycle Costs in Oil & Gas Industry Effect of Elevated testing on Properties of Metallic Samples GRP/GRE/GRV – what they are Asset Integrity Management – Key Principles Typical Corrosion Types Apr 2023 CORROSION RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY Fatigue Failure Unravelling the Roots: Fishbone Diagram for Root Cause Analysis The Critical Value of CTOD: Understanding Fracture Mechanics No posts found