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Hydrogen embrittlement and grain boundary fracture

Journal Article · · Scr. Metall.; (United States)

This paper describes the relationship between intergranular and transgranular fracture modes of hydrogen embrittlement. The interaction of a transgranular crack, propagating under constant stress in a gaseous hydrogen environment of 40kPa with a grain boundary, is shown. Transgranular fracture is observed when the hydrogen distribution is enhanced at the tip of a notch because either that is the point at which hydrogen enters from the gas phase or concentrates from the solid solution due to the stress field. Intergranular fracture is alternately observed when there is a hydrogen concentration at the grain boundary higher than at other places in the solid. Higher hydrogen concentrations have been observed at grain boundaries in Ni-H alloys using a Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer technique. The presence of segregated S at the grain boundaries was also shown to enhance the concentration of hydrogen there.

Research Organization:
University of Illinois, Department of Metallurgy and Mining Engineering and Materials Research Laboratory, Urbana, IL
OSTI ID:
6129241
Journal Information:
Scr. Metall.; (United States), Journal Name: Scr. Metall.; (United States) Vol. 18:8; ISSN SCRMB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English