Hydrogen Embrittlement Failure

Hydrogen embrittlement is a process in which hydride-forming metals such as titanium, vanadium, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium become brittle and fracture due to the introduction and subsequent diffusion of hydrogen into the metal¹. Practically all metal materials can be damaged by the absorption of hydrogen, if a sufficient quantity can penetrate into the material². Preventing the occurrence of hydrogen embrittlement requires understanding the source of hydrogen, the process of hydrogen absorption and transportation in metals, the embrittlement mechanism and the visual appearance.

Fig 1 Global description of hydrogen embrittlement interaction aspects ³

Alfa Chemistry provides hydrogen embrittlement failure testing and other failure analysis to help you detect possible hydrogen exposures during manufacturing, evaluate hydrogen embrittlement, and better understand the cause of product failure. We have experienced experts in various industries, who can communicate with you to determine the root cause of the failure, provide relevant solutions and suggestions, and reduce the recurrence of the same failure. At the same time, we are able to provide failure analysis services for a variety of retail products, including Personal Care & Beauty Products, Healthcare, Chemicals, Household and Apparel, Stationery and Office Supplies and Toys & Children Products. If you have any questions about failure analysis, please feel free to contact us.

Alfa Chemistry specializes in various materials industries:

Equipment for failure analysis includes but not limited to:

• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer - The most convenient and quick tool for the identification of unknowns.

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer - The quantitative and qualitative tools of unknowns.

• Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer - A precise unknown qualitative tool.

• GC-MS - Qualitative and quantitative tools for mixing liquids and mixed gas components.

• LC-MS - A qualitative and quantitative tool for mixing liquid components.

• Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer - Measuring the relationship between the mass of a substance and temperature (or time).

Some hydrogen embrittlement testing standards:

• ASTM B577 - Standard Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper

• ASTM F519 - Standard Test Method for Mechanical Hydrogen Embrittlement Evaluation of Plating/Coating Processes and Service Environments

• ASTM F1624 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydrogen Embrittlement Threshold in Steel by the Incremental Step Loading Technique

• ASTM G142 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Susceptibility of Metals to Embrittlement in Hydrogen Containing Environments at High Pressure, High Temperature, or Both

• ASTM STP 962 - Hydrogen Embrittlement: Prevention and Control

• ISO 11114-4:2017 - Test methods for selecting steels resistant to hydrogen embrittlement

Alfa Chemistry's advantages:

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement

• Jarmila Woodtli, Rolf Kieselbach. (2015) ‘Damage due to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking', Engineering Failure Analysis. 7: 427 - 450

• Afrooz Barnoush. (2010) ‘Recent developments in the study of hydrogen embrittlement: Hydrogen effect on dislocation nucleation', Acta Materialia. 58: 5274 - 5285