Estimation of Hydrogen Effect on Metals Fracture

The problem of hydrogen effect on the physical and chemical properties of metals belongs to the actual directions of modern fracture mechanics of materials. The importance of this problem is due to the growing need for the development of hydrogen energy and hydrogen technologies. At the same time, hydrogen has a significant negative property—it vitally reduces the resistance of metals to fracture. In this case, there is a typical situation when machines and equipment with sufficiently high strength in normal operating conditions undergo fracture under the influence of hydrogen, with premature and, at first glance, unpredictable failure. Hydrogen degradation of metallic materials and structures often results from such harmful effects of hydrogen on their behavior and integrity. In this chapter of the monograph, the physical aspects of the influence of the hydrogen factor on the destruction of metals are described. Special attention is focused on the application of elastic waves of acoustic emission for diagnosing hydrogen degradation of structural materials. Methods and means of determining the content of hydrogen in structural materials are considered.