HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT Meaning and
Definition
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Hydrogen embrittlement is a phenomenon that involves the degradation or weakening of materials due to the presence and interaction of hydrogen. It occurs when hydrogen atoms penetrate the lattice structure of a material, causing cracks and brittleness, ultimately leading to failure under stress.
When certain metals, such as steel, titanium, or nickel-based alloys, come into contact with hydrogen, they can absorb it through various mechanisms, such as corrosion, chemical reactions, or exposure to hydrogen gas. Once absorbed, the hydrogen atoms migrate through the metal lattice and tend to accumulate at lattice defects, such as grain boundaries, dislocations, or voids.
The presence of hydrogen creates stress concentrations around these defects, reducing the material's ability to deform plastically. This leads to a loss of ductility, making the material prone to brittle fractures or sudden failure, even under lower applied stresses than would typically cause failure in the absence of hydrogen.
Hydrogen embrittlement can occur in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and oil and gas, where materials are exposed to hydrogen or its sources, such as hydrogen sulfide. It poses a significant risk in high-strength fasteners, pipelines, or structural components subjected to mechanical stresses.
To mitigate hydrogen embrittlement, various preventive measures are employed, such as material selection, coating or plating techniques, heat treatments, or applying hydrogen barriers. These methods aim to minimize hydrogen absorption, impede its movement in the material, or enhance the material's resistance to embrittlement. Understanding the mechanisms and factors contributing to hydrogen embrittlement is essential in ensuring the integrity and safety of structures and equipment.
Common Misspellings for HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
- gydrogen embrittlement
- bydrogen embrittlement
- nydrogen embrittlement
- jydrogen embrittlement
- uydrogen embrittlement
- yydrogen embrittlement
- htdrogen embrittlement
- hgdrogen embrittlement
- hhdrogen embrittlement
- hudrogen embrittlement
- h7drogen embrittlement
- h6drogen embrittlement
- hysrogen embrittlement
- hyxrogen embrittlement
- hycrogen embrittlement
- hyfrogen embrittlement
- hyrrogen embrittlement
- hyerogen embrittlement
- hydeogen embrittlement
- hyddogen embrittlement
Etymology of HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
The term "hydrogen embrittlement" is derived from the combination of two words: "hydrogen" and "embrittlement".
"Hydrogen" comes from the Greek word "hydrōs", meaning "water", and the word "gennan", meaning "generate". It was coined by the English chemist Henry Cavendish in 1766.
"Embrittlement" is derived from the word "brittle", which originated from the Old English word "brytel" meaning "hard". "Embrittlement" refers to the process or state of becoming brittle or fragile, especially under stress or while experiencing a decrease in ductility.
Therefore, "hydrogen embrittlement" refers to the phenomenon where materials become brittle or fracture more readily when exposed to hydrogen, such as metals that become fragile due to the diffusion and concentration of hydrogen atoms within their atomic structure.
