Systems and methods for determining concentrations of mobile hydrogen of metallic objects and/or reducing concentrations of mobile hydrogen of metallic objects

An analytical inspection method for determining concentration of mobile hydrogen of a metallic object, the analytical inspection method comprising:

• placing the metallic object into a vacuum furnace;
• drawing a vacuum in the vacuum furnace;
• simultaneously:
• heating the metallic object in the vacuum furnace;
• and
• measuring a quantity of the mobile hydrogen released from the metallic object using a hydrogen sensing device;
• and
• continuing the heating of the metallic object in the vacuum furnace until the measured quantity of the mobile hydrogen released from the metallic object is below a threshold value;
• wherein the hydrogen sensing device is configured to detect and/or measure the mobile hydrogen at levels less than or equal to 1 part per million (ppm).

A method for reducing concentration of mobile hydrogen of a metallic object, the method comprising:

• placing the metallic object into a vacuum furnace;
• drawing a vacuum in the vacuum furnace;
• heating the metallic object in the vacuum furnace;
• measuring a quantity of the mobile hydrogen released from the metallic object using a hydrogen sensing device;
• and
• continuing the heating of the metallic object in the vacuum furnace until the measured quantity of the mobile hydrogen released from the metallic object is below a threshold value;
• wherein the hydrogen sensing device is configured to detect and/or measure the mobile hydrogen at levels less than or equal to 1 part per million (ppm).