The Current Status of Hydrogen Embrittlement in Pipeline Steel: An Overview

As a green, low‐carbon, and clean energy source, hydrogen energy plays a key role in sustainable energy systems. However, safe and efficient hydrogen transportation is still a challenge for industrial applications. Generally, pipeline transportation is employed for hydrogen delivery, with the advantages of high efficiency, low cost, and economic viability. Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a significant risk for hydrogen transportation through pipelines. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the HE resistance of pipeline steel. This work reviews the underlying mechanisms of HE and explores two primary prevention strategies: alloy design and heat treatment. It discusses the effectiveness and limitations of each approach. Meanwhile, this study also proposes key future research directions aimed at improving the reliability and performance of pipeline steels.