Comparative Hydrogen Fracturing as a Means to Unambiguously Clarify Failure

Abstract

Generally, the clarification of hydrogen induced component damage cases by means of failure analysis is based on fractographic examinations in combination with hydrogen analyses. However, due to high diffusion rates of hydrogen in steels at RT (room temperature), providing the analytical evidence of an excessive hydrogen content is rarely possible. This work presents potential production and application related hydrogen sources as well as the mechanisms of hydrogen induced delayed formation of cracks and illustrates a systematical approach to produce comparative hydrogen fracturing. Therefore, the damaged component's specific material condition is the basis in order to generate a comparative fracture surface with an identical fracture morphology and applying the same damage mechanism.