Getter-I on Probe Studies of Hydrogen Entry into Iron from Liquid and Gaseous Ammonia Systems

A. In earlier exploratory researches on the mechanism of hydrogen entry into iron and steel, these as basic preludes to the cracking of high-strength steels, we examined how aqueous H2S solutions and how electrochemically-produced H3AS traces in aqueous solutions react upon iron surfaces. Our present experiments, with improved physical apparatus, continue these hydrogen input measurements upon liquid ammonia systems, which were systematically varied in their chemistry and in their electrochemistry. There are two fundamental reasons for pursuing these problems: one of these is to understand better the chemistry and physical properties of gaseous and liquid ammonia systems. The second reason is to know how liquid ammonia behaves relative to carbon and low-alloy steel which is the most common material of construction for tanks, ships, and pipelines. Our primary interest herein was for a basic understanding of iron-ammonia interactions and hydrogen-iron interactions.