Materials used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and steel manufacturing often contain small amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen (ONH) within their crystal structure. While these interstitial gases are invisible to the eye, they can significantly affect material performance. ONH analysis measures them by extracting the gases from the sample and analyzing each one separately, providing the accurate compositional data needed for informed manufacturing and quality decisions.

The Science Behind ONH Analysis

Oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen exist as interstitial elements, meaning they occupy microscopic spaces within a material’s crystal lattice. Since they are embedded throughout the bulk material, conventional surface analysis cannot accur

Not every welding defect is visible when fabrication ends. In high-strength steels, diffusible hydrogen can remain trapped within a welded joint and initiate cracking hours or even days later, long after routine inspections have been completed. A diffusible hydrogen analyzer enables manufacturers to detect diffusible hydrogen levels early, verify that welding processes are producing low-hydrogen welds, and decrease the likelihood of expensive failures before components ever reach service.

The Mechanics of Hydrogen Contamination

Most diffusible hydrogen enters steel during welding. Moisture present in welding electrodes, fluxes, shielding gases, or on the surface of steel dissociates under the intense heat of the welding arc to form atomic hydrogen. This hydrogen

Quality control decisions are only as reliable as the data behind them. For metals, analyzing alloy composition alone leaves a critical gap because oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen remain hidden within the material’s structure. Choosing an Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen (ONH) analyzer delivers precise measurement of these interstitial gases, helping manufacturers make informed decisions that protect product quality throughout production.

Interstitial Gases And Their Impact On Metal Performance

Although hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen exist in trace concentrations, their influence on mechanical performance is far from insignificant. Melting, casting, heat treatment, and welding can introduce them into a metal matrix, where they alter material behavior in

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