Wasserstoffkrankheit

Description: Hydrogen embrittlement is a type of Corrosion in which atomic hydrogen diffuses into the Material and is deposited in the metal lattice structure. The hydrogen undergoes molecular recombination, in particular at defects and grain boundaries in the material. The associated volume increase may lead to a high internal pressure and, consequently, to internal tensile stresses, which makes the material brittle and creates cracks (called hydrogen-induced cracking). Internal tensile stresses and load stresses cause brittle fracturing. The presentation of this cracking may also be delayed due to the time it takes for the hydrogen to be incorporated. This incorporation process inhibits slippage, which can cause a component to break with virtually no deformation. Hydrogen embrittlement frequently occurs during Welding and electrogalvanising of steels because hydrogen is formed on the cathodic Steel. Low-hydrogen Annealing (tempering) counters this. With the exception of austenitic high-grade steels, steels are just as susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement as highly sensitive Titanium. Hydrogen embrittlement also affects Copper grades containing oxygen that are used in the field of electrical engineering. This results in cracks and cavities.