Hydrogen embrittlement in gas turbine superalloys: new research shows risks at high temperatures

A new study published in Nature Materials reveals that hydrogen embrittlement in Nickel-base superalloys used in gas turbines is at least twice as severe at operating temperatures above 400°C compared to ambient conditions. Researchers from MPI-SusMat and collaborators found that hydrogen reacts with carbides in the alloy to form pressurized methane, weakening interfaces and risking catastrophic failure. This is a critical finding for plans to burn hydrogen in power generation and aviation turbines to cut CO2 emissions. The research identifies carbides as the entry point for hydrogen damage and suggests future alloy designs must replace carbides or balance strength with embrittlement resistance. For the hydrogen economy to scale safely, materials science needs to catch up with fuel-switching ambitions. The study underscores that technical hurdles remain before hydrogen can replace natural gas in existing turbine fleets.