Synergistic Effects of Pre-charged Hydrogen and Tensile Stress on the Stress Corrosion Cracking of 2024-T351 Aluminum Alloy

The 2xxx aluminum alloys, known for their lightweight and high strength, play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and are extensively used in the aerospace industry for weight reduction. However, fully understanding the combined effects of hydrogen and tensile stress remains a significant challenge in reducing sensitivity to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) during harsh service conditions. We propose an innovative hydrogen–tensile stress synchronized–scanning vibrating electrode technique (HTS-SVET), combined with slow strain rate tests, to explore these effects in 2024-T351. Hydrogen pre-charging significantly enhances the susceptibility of 2024-T351 to SCC, leading to pronounced intergranular cracking when subjected to tensile stress. The HTS-SVET system demonstrates that tensile stress not only significantly induces SCC in localized areas of the 2024-T351 alloy but also exacerbates corrosion in hydrogen-charged regions, thereby highlighting a pronounced synergistic effect between hydrogen and stress.