Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Thorsten Michler

Xingcheng Xiao

Leonid Charles Lev

Michael J Lukitsch

Dimitri A Podorashi

Ductility of a high-magnesium or high-aluminum content workpiece is increased during plastic deformation of the workpiece. When the workpiece is plastically deformed in a sealed chamber comprising a high concentration of dry hydrogen gas, the workpiece exhibits increased ductility compared to the ductility of a workpiece of identical composition that is similarly deformed in air. Enhanced ductility is quantified for several workpieces comprising aluminum and magnesium alloys in various forms including extruded sheets, drawn bars, rolled plates, and piston casts. Enhanced ductility is evident over a wide range of processing temperatures without a significant decrease in strength characteristics.

Hydrogen-induced ductility in aluminum and magnesium alloys

The performance and durability of static and dynamic seals for hydrogen storage and supply systems has been improved by utilizing a spring-energized and plastic coated radial seal in combination with at least a mating surface that has been treated by one of a variety of procedures. These procedures include applying to the mating surface a low-friction, hard, and hydrogen impervious coating, chemically polishing the mating surface, and electrochemically polishing the mating surface. Each of these procedures significantly reduces, on a microscopic scale, the surface roughness of the mating surface. The seal can thus form a tighter and more gas-tight seal with the smoother mating surface so as to decrease the loss of hydrogen gas across the seal. The smoother mating surface can also improve seal life by reducing seal surface wear.

Seal performance for hydrogen storage and supply systems

A treated austenitic steel and method for treating same includes an austenitic steel and a non-metal chemical element incorporated into a surface of the steel. The surface has a bi-layered structure of a compound layer at a top and an underlying diffusion layer, which protects said surface against hydrogen embrittlement.

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Hofheim, Germany

Thorsten Michler