Stress Corrosion and Hydrogen Embrittlement in an Aluminum Alloy

A strain aging type of reversible hydrogen embrittlement has been demonstrated for a high strength aluminum alloy in a 3% NaCl environment. Permeation of hydrogen was related to SCC under cathodic polarization as well as anodic conditions. Internal friction and lattice parameter measurements relate directly to lattice dissolved hydrogen arising from the environment. It is concluded that the evidence is quite consistent with a mechanism of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) involving absorption of hydrogen leading to lattice dissolved hydrogen and embrittlement.