Hydrogen
A multipurpose gas for the metals and materials processing industry
Hydrogen is used in metals & materials processing to reduce metal oxides and to prevent oxidation during heat-treating processes and metal powder production. Hydrogen is used in high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) processes for generating high heat, low oxidation and high particle velocities. It can also be used as a process gas in atmosphere plasma spray applications. Our applications engineers can help you select a supply system to meet your pressure and volume requirements.
Air Products offer liquid hydrogen and compressed hydrogen gas in a variety of purities and various modes of supply around the world thanks to our network of storage and transfill facilities.
Hydrogen for Metals and Materials Processing
Hydrogen can be used in a wide range of applications across metals and materials component manufacturing:
- Annealing
- Gouging
- Thermal and plasma spraying
- Sintering
- Heat treating
- Metal powder production
to provide numerous benefits, such as:
- Reducing or eliminating surface oxidation
- Improving part quality
- Increasing efficiency and yields
- Decreasing scrap
Ask the Expert
Mark Lanham
Applications Engineer, North America
“What are the advantages of using hydrogen as the fuel gas versus traditional hydrocarbons for HVOF operations?”
There are only a few types of fuels used for combustion in traditional HVOF (High Velocity Oxy-Fuel) systems, i.e., hydrogen, kerosene, methane (natural gas), propane and propylene. While each fuel has some distinct advantages, hydrogen offers some unique advantages:
- Because of its higher thermal conductivity, hydrogen achieves the best heat transfer from the flame to the powder particles despite having an overall lower flame temperature in comparison with the conventional hydrocarbon fuels.
- The performance of the HVOF process depends on the type of fuel, stoichiometric ratio, and combustion pressure, as well as gun design features. The ability to run rich hydrogen flows creates a reducing atmosphere, which lowers oxide production and further improves the quality of the coating.
- Due to the complete combustion of the stoichiometric reactants of hydrogen and oxygen, there are no unburned residuals deposited on the coating.
- In addition, hydrogen can be delivered at sufficient pressures in tubes and bulk liquid tanks that do not require heating pads during the winter months in order to assure sufficient fuel flow to your HVOF booth.
Supply Options
Air Products can help you determine the most economical supply option for your particular application and geographic location. Industrial gases are typically provided in gaseous and liquid form through a variety of supply systems
大量供給
トラックで配送され、お客様の容積、希望する圧力、純度レベル、流量、および動作パターンに基づいて、極低温タンクの液体または高圧チューブのガスとして現場に保管されます。
CryoEase® マイクロバルク ソリューション
大規模な運用向けの便利で費用対効果の高いソリューション。 CryoEase® タンクはさまざまなサイズで利用できます。 CryoEase® サービスは、ボンベの取り扱い、棚卸し、注文を行う必要がなくなるため、ガス供給を簡素化します。
オンサイトガス生成
オンサイトガス生成を通じて、持続可能性を重視するお客様がカーボンフットプリントの削減、エネルギー効率の向上、スループット改善、最終製品の品質向上、環境パフォーマンスの改善を達成できるよう支援します。
パイプライン供給
世界中の主要な産業拠点に位置するパイプラインは、大規模な製品を要求する顧客に、費用対効果の高い方法での信頼性、安全性、柔軟な供給など、さまざまなメリットを提供します。
Industrial Gas Audits and Leak Detection Services
Audits and leak detection services can be comprehensive assessments of the entire gas supply system, or specific to gas or process equipment that use the gas.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Get in touch with our technical experts.
Let us help you optimize hydrogen usage to improve quality and increase efficiency and yield.
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