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Title: Moisture-induced embrittlement of Fe sub 3 Al

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6998941

Recent tests at ORNL indicate that the ductility of iron aluminides is very sensitive to the test environment. It is believed that the loss of ductility observed in moist air environments is associated with a hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon as a result of dissociation of water vapor and the intake of atomic hydrogen into the aluminide matrix. This possibility will be investigated in a series of tests under controlled environmental conditions. Compact specimens will be tested under controlled stress intensity conditions. Crack growth rates as a function of the applied stress intensity will be measured with the direct-current potential drop technique. Initial tests will be conducted in moist air and in vacuum at room temperature. In an additional series of tests the temperature of the moist air will be varied to permit the determination of an activation energy for the embrittlement process. Fractographic examination of the fracture surfaces will also be performed. It is anticipated that this series of test will increase our understanding of the environmentally-induced embrittlement of iron aluminide alloys. 2 refs., 1 fig.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/FE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6998941
Report Number(s):
CONF-900546-9; ON: DE90012413
Resource Relation:
Conference: 4. conference on fossil energy materials, Oak Ridge, TN (USA), 15-17 May 1990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English