Developments

Research is underway to better understand how advanced materials can support the next generation of maritime and energy infrastructure.

Giflo Steels Australia, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, is undertaking applied research into the performance of ultra-high strength steel in hydrogen and marine environments. The study focuses on Giflo’s F1000 steel and its suitability for structural and pipeline applications exposed to hydrogen and corrosive conditions.

A key focus is hydrogen embrittlement, a known challenge for high-strength steels in hydrogen-rich environments. Through microscopy, mechanical testing and controlled hydrogen exposure, the research is assessing how the material performs under load. Initial results indicate that Giflo F1000 maintains strong mechanical performance under hydrogen charging and performs well relative to comparable steels.

The research is now moving beyond base material testing and into fabricated components, including welded joints. This step is critical. It will determine whether the properties observed in controlled conditions can be maintained once the material is processed into real structures, where heat-affected zones and fabrication methods can significantly influence performance.

This work brings together expertise from the Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis and the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney, alongside Giflo Steels Australia and the Future Energy Exports CRC.

In parallel, related research is being developed to examine corrosion in marine environments. This includes real-time monitoring techniques to better understand how materials degrade under saltwater exposure, marine growth and environmental variability. Hydrogen plays a role in both corrosion processes and hydrogen infrastructure systems, and understanding this interaction at both a structural and atomic level is a key objective of the program.

For ASSIST Maritime, this work informs how infrastructure can be designed and delivered using less material while maintaining performance. The use of higher strength steels creates opportunities to reduce structural weight, which directly impacts fabrication effort, cost and embodied emissions. It also supports applications where asset life, maintenance cycles and operational reliability are critical.

Testing against Australian standards is a key part of this process, helping build confidence in how new materials can be applied and how standards may evolve to support their use in infrastructure.

More broadly, this work contributes to strengthening sovereign capability across materials, manufacturing and supply chains, aligned to future infrastructure delivery in Australia and the transition to lower-emissions energy systems.