On surface energy and the hydrogen embrittlement of iron and steels
- Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada). Dept. of Metals and Materials Engineering
Hydrogen embrittlement of iron and steels is examined on the basis of changes in surface energy due to adsorption effects, as first proposed by Petch. Attention is directed towards the development of a suitable adsorption isotherm for iron that adequately describes interactions between the surface and a mobile hydrogen solute in the metal lattice. Hydrogen induced changes in surface energy are analyzed for the unstressed lattice, and in the presence of very high localized tensile stresses. It is concluded that the high stresses are necessary to produce a sufficient decrease in surface energy to promote cracking, and that embrittlement proceeds by the formation of microcracks within the metal. The study includes the effects of changes in the concentration (activity) of hydrogen in the metal lattice and the influence of microstructure.
- OSTI ID:
- 7029346
- Journal Information:
- Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Vol. 42:6; ISSN 0956-7151
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
IRON
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
STEELS
CRACK PROPAGATION
MICROSTRUCTURE
SURFACE ENERGY
ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
EMBRITTLEMENT
ENERGY
FREE ENERGY
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360103* - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties