The Fracturing of Metals upon Saturation with Hydrogen in a Corrosive Environment

This paper describes the results of studying the volume distribution of hydrogen after fracturing of a metallic cylindrical corset specimens under loading in a corrosive environment. The skin effect of hydrogen saturation is revealed, which is similar to that observed upon saturation with hydrogen of free unloaded specimens. The results allow us to explain the effect of treatment of the surface layer of metallic elements on their resistance to hydrogen fracturing and mechanical characteristics. In the experiments, the destruction of specimens occurred after 200 h under loading with an extension load 20% below the yield stress. This indicates the key effect of the hydrogen skin effect on the strength of metallic elements and structural units. The results of investigating surface effects that strongly affect the mechanical strengths of metals are briefly reviewed: embrittlement in liquid metals and the surface effect upon plastic deformation. Comparison of the results shows that the ways surface effects act are similar, and in many cases, these effects occur simultaneously.