Hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength steels

Hinotani, S., Terasaki, E., and Takahashi, K., Hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steels in high pressure hydrogen gas at ambient temperature, Tetsu-To-Hagane, 64, 899-905, 1978. 

The circulation of current may have undesirable side effects it may lead to hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength steel, stimulate alkali aggregate reactions, reduce the bond between reinforcement [32] and concrete or lead to acidification in the anodic region. 

Gangloff, R.P., Wei, R.P. Gaseous hydrogen embrittlement of high strength steels. Met... 

POSTER TITLE Characterization of mechanical effects of hydrogen embrittlement on high strength steels... 

Hydrogen embrittlement on high-strength steel Loss of bond between reinforcement and concrete... 

Fig. 14.27 Influence of notch root radius (triaxiality) on the time to failure by hydrogen embrittlement in high strength steel specimens [38]...

Because limitations exist with all of these techniques, research is being conducted to improve the current methods and to develop new ones to inhibit hydrogen embrittlement in high strength steels. One new method is the use of rare earth additions in these alloys. 

There has been some controversy as to whether s.c.c. occurs by active path corrosion or by hydrogen embrittlement. Lack of space does not permit a full treatment of this subject here. References 14 and 15 are recent reviews on the s.c.c. of high strength steels and deal with the mechanism of cracking (see also Section 8.4). It is appropriate to discuss briefly some of the latest work which appears to provide pertinent information on the cracking mechanism. It should be noted, however, that cracking in all alloy systems may not be by the same mechanism, and that evidence from one alloy system need not constitute valid support for the same cracking mechanism in another. 

---