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Hydrogen embrittlement of stainless steels by lithium hydride

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Abstract

Tests were made on 304L and 17-7 PH stainless steels in contact with LiH powder. Reduction in area relative to ductility in air decreased for both alloys. It was essential that the LiH be baked in contact with the alloys for the ductility loss to be observed; thermodynamic and kinetic evidence indicated that the LiH was reacting with surface oxides to furnish [H] to the steel. The depth to which hydrogen affected fracture surface morphology in 304L was greater than could be accounted for by diffusion, and it was concluded that dislocation transport accounted for the difference. Although direct evidence was not available, the locale of hydrogen damage in 304L was suggested to be the interface between the matrix and nonmetallic inclusions. A rationale based on this possibility was shown to be selfconsistent. The generality of the importance of [H] furnished by LiH reaction was illustrated by the results on 17-7 PH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science Center, Rockwell International, 91360, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

    Anthony W. Thompson

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  1. Anthony W. Thompson
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Formerly with Sandia Laboratories, Livermore, California,

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Thompson, A.W. Hydrogen embrittlement of stainless steels by lithium hydride. Metall Trans 4, 2819–2825 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02644582

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02644582

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