The objective of this work was to determine the desorption behavior of hydrogen from welds. The information was required as input to an analysis of the likelihood of damage to pipeline coatings from hydrogen
desorption from welds. The likelihood of hydrogen damage depends upon the amount of hydrogen that is introduced into the weld by the weld consumable and welding process, the holding time after welding and prior to coating, and any surface treatment or thermal treatment applied after completion of the weld and prior to coating. Hydrogen permeation was evaluated as a ~nction of weld consumable and location/orientation in the weldment. A model was developed for hydrogen desorption from welds in order to understand the hydrogen movement within the weld metal. Classical diffusion theory was used to determine hydrogen concentration profiles as a fianction of time and using diffusion coefficients obtained by permeation experiments. Hydrogen desorption from welds as well as diffusible hydrogen remaining in welds was evaluated as a fimction of time. Three weld consumables were used to examine a range of weld hydrogen levels.