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Influence of sulfur, phosphorus, and antimony segregation on the intergranular hydrogen embrittlement of nickel

Journal Article · · Metall. Trans., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02651619· OSTI ID:5435207

The effectiveness of sulfur, phosphorus, and antimony in promoting the intergranular embrittlement of nickel was investigated using straining electrode tests in 1N H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ at cathodic potentials. Sulfur was found to be the critical grain boundary segregant due to its large enrichment at grain boundaries (10/sup 4/ to 10/sup 5/ times the bulk content) and the direct relationship between sulfur coverage and hydrogeninduced intergranular failure. Phosphorus was shown to be significantly less effective than sulfur or antimony in inducing the intergranular hydrogen embrittlement of nickel. The addition of phosphoru to nickel reduced the tendency for intergranular fracture and improved ductility because phosphoru segregated strongly to grain interfaces and limited sulfur enrichment. The hydrogen embrittling potency of antimony was also less than that of sulfur while its segregation propensity was considerably less. It was found that the effectiveness of segregated phosphorus and antimony in prompting inter granular embrittlement vs that of sulfur could be expressed in terms of an equivalent grain boundary sulfur coverage. The relative hydrogen embrittling potencies of sulfur, phosphorus, and antimony are discussed in reference to general mechanisms for the effect of impurity segregation on hydrogeninduced intergranular fracture.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5435207
Journal Information:
Metall. Trans., A; (United States), Journal Name: Metall. Trans., A; (United States) Vol. 14A; ISSN MTTAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English