Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A new model for hydrogen-assisted cracking (hydrogen “embrittlement”)

  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new model is presented for hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) which explains the observations of decreasing microscopic plasticity and changes of fracture modes with decreasing stress intensities at crack tips during stress-corrosion cracking and HAC of quenched-and- tempered steels. The model suggests that the presence of sufficiently concentrated hydrogen dissolved in the lattice just ahead of the crack tip aids whatever deformation processes the microstructure will allow. Intergranular, quasicleavage, or microvoid coalescence fracture modes operate depending upon the microstructure, the crack-tip stress intensity, and the concentration of hydrogen. The model unifies several theories but shows how the stress-sorption and lattice embrittlement models are unnecessary. The model shows that planar pressure effects are necessary at low stress intensities and are necessary only to augment the driving force from the applied loads. The basic hydrogen-steel interaction appears to be an easing of dislocation motion or generation, or both.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B. F. Brown, C. T. Fujii, and E. P. Dahlberg:J. Electrochem. Soc, 1969, vol. 116, p. 218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. B. F. Brown:Cont. Belg. Etude Corros., Rapp. Tech., 1970, vol. 112, pp. RT 170–71.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. A. Smith, M. H. Peterson, and B. F. Brown:Corrosion, 1970, vol. 26, p. 539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. N. A. Nielsen:ASTM J. Mater., 1970, p. 794.

  5. V. J. Colangelo and M. S. Ferguson:Corr.-NACE, 1969, vol. 25, p. 509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. D. O. Hayward and B. M. W. Trapnell:Chemisorption, First ed., p. 236, Butterworths, Washington, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. R. Troiano:Trans. ASM, 1960, vol. 52, p. 54.

    Google Scholar 

  8. C. B. Gilpin, D. H. Paul, S. K. Asunman, and N. A. Tiner:Amer. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ., No. 396, 1966, p. 7.

  9. F. deKazinczy:Jern. Kont. Ann., 1955, vol. 139, p. 885.

    Google Scholar 

  10. W. Beck, J. O’M Bockris, J. McBreen, and L. Nanis:Proc. Roy. Soc, 1966, vol. A290, p. 220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. I. Phalen and D. A. Vaughan:Corrosion, 1968, vol. 24, p. 243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. J. F. Hobson and C. Sykes:J. Iron Steel Inst., 1951,vol. 169,p.2O9.

    Google Scholar 

  13. R. P. Frohmberg, W. J. Barnett, and A. R. Troiano:Trans. ASM, 1955, vol. 47, p. 893.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. S. Tetelman:Fracture of Solids, Int. Fracture Conf., Maple Valley, Wash. Interscience Publishers, New York, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  15. R. Gibala:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1967, vol. 239, p. 1574.

    Google Scholar 

  16. J. B. Seabrook, N. J. Grant, and D. Carney:Trans. AIME, 1950, vol. 188, p. 1317.

    Google Scholar 

  17. H. C. Rogers:Acta Met., 1956, vol. 4, p. 114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. P. Bastien and P. Azou:Proc. First World Met. Cong., p. 535, ASM, Cleveland, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  19. N. J. Grant and J. L. Lundsford:Iron Age, 1955, vol. 175, p. 92.

    Google Scholar 

  20. A. Cracknell and N. J. Petch:Acta Met., 1955, vol. 3, p. 200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. R. A. Vennett and G. S. Ansell:Trans. ASM, 1967, vol. 60, p. 242.

    Google Scholar 

  22. R. Morgan and B. Ralph:Acta Met., 1967,vol. 15, p. 341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. W. W. Gerberich and C. E. Hartbower:Fundamental Aspects of Stress Corrosion Cracking, p. 420, NACE, Houston, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  24. J. H. Hoke:Corrosion, 1970, vol. 26, p. 396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. L. B. Pfeil:Proc. Roy. Soc. London, 1926, vol. Al 12, p. 182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. N. J. Petch and P. Stables:Nature, 1952, vol. 169, p. 842.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. H. Uhlig:Corrosion and Corrosion Control, John Wiley, N. Y., 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  28. D. P. Smith:Hydrogen in Metals, University Press, Chicago, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  29. L. S. Darken and R. P. Smith:Corrosion, 1949, vol. 5, p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. E. W. Johnson and M. L. Hill:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1960, vol. 218, p. 1104.

    Google Scholar 

  31. A. McNabb and P. K. Foster:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1963, vol. 227, p. 618.

    Google Scholar 

  32. R. A. Oriani:Hydrogen in Metals, p. 446, NACE, Houston, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  33. C. Zapffe and C. Sims:Trans. AIME, 1941, vol. 145, p. 225.

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. Smialowski:Hydrogen in Steel, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. S. Tetelman and W. Robertson:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1962, vol. 224, p. 775.

    Google Scholar 

  36. A. S. Tetelman:Fundamental Aspects of Stress Corrosion Cracking, p. 446, NACE, Houston, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Th. Weichselfelder:Liebigs. Ann. Chem., 1926, vol. 447, p. 64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. D. G. Westlake:Trans. ASM, 1969, vol. 62, p. 1000.

    Google Scholar 

  39. U. Lindborg:Int. J. Fract. Meek, 1968, vol. 4, p. 89.

    Google Scholar 

  40. D. Tromans and J. Nutting:Corrosion, 1965, vol. 21, p. 143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. E. A. Schuetz and W. D. Robertson:Corrosion, 1957, vol. 13, p. 437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. B. V. Whiteson, A. Phillips, V. Kerlins, and R. A. Rowe:Amer. Soc. Test. Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ. 436, ASTM, Philadelphia, 1968.

  43. H. H. Johnson:Fundamental Aspects of Stress Corrosion Cracking, p. 439, NACE, Houston, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  44. C.F. Barth and E. A. Steigerwald:Met. Trans., 1970,vol. 1,p. 3451.

    Google Scholar 

  45. C. D. Beachem, T. C. Lupton, and B. F. Brown:Met. Trans., 1971, vol. 2, p. 141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Fracture Toughness Testing and Its Applications, Amer. Soc. Testing Mater., Spec. Tech. Publ. No. 381, Philadelphia, 1965.

  47. C. D. Beachem and R. M. N. Pelloux:Fracture Toughness Testing and Its Applications, Amer. Soc. Testing Mater, Spec. Tech. Publ. No. 381, p. 210, Philadelphia, 1965.

  48. E. P. Dahlberg:Trans. ASM, 1965, vol. 58, p. 46.

    Google Scholar 

  49. C. D. Beachem:Trans. ASM, 1963, vol. 56, p. 318.

    Google Scholar 

  50. G. Sandoz: NRL, Washington, D. C, unpublished research, 1970.

  51. G. G. Hancock and H. H. Johnson:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1966, vol. 236, p. 513.

    Google Scholar 

  52. D. P. Williams and H. G. Nelson:Met. Trans., 1970, vol. 1, p. 63.

    Google Scholar 

  53. M. H. Peterson, B. F. Brown, R. L. Newbegin, and R. E. Groover:Corrosion, 1967, vol. 23, p. 142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. A. M. Sullivan:Amer. Soc. Test. Mater., Mater. Res. Stand., 1964, vol. 4, p. 20.

    Google Scholar 

  55. ASTM Standards, Part 31, p. 913,Amer. Soc. Test. Mater., Philadelphia, 1970.

  56. C. D. Beachem and D. A. Meyn:Amer. Soc. Test. Mater, Spec. Tech. Publ. 436, p. 59, ASTM, Philadelphia, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  57. A. Phillips, V. Kerlins, and B. V. Whiteson:Electron Fractography Handbook, AFML-TR-64-416, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  58. R. G. Baker and F. Watkinson:Hydrogen in Steel, Iron Steel Spec. Rep. No. 73, p. 123, London, 1962.

  59. H. C. Rogers:Science, 1968, vol. 159, p. 1057.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. C. D. Beachem, J. A. Kies, and B. F. Brown:Amer. Soc. Testing Mater., Mater. Res., April 1971.

  61. D. Webster:Met. Trans., 1970, vol. 1, p. 2919.

    Google Scholar 

  62. E. Snape:Corrosion-NACE, 1968, vol. 24, p. 261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crystal Mechanics Section, Physical Metallurgy Branch, Metallurgy Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

    C. D. Beachem (Head)

Authors
  1. C. D. Beachem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beachem, C.D. A new model for hydrogen-assisted cracking (hydrogen “embrittlement”). Metall Trans 3, 441–455 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02642048

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02642048

Keywords

Search

Navigation