A visible technology for display of hydrogen distribution in metals

Tritium autoradiography provides the visible evidence of hydrogen distribution in the materials. The autoradiography of Ni base super alloys reveals that the hydrogen is trapped at grain boundaries, inclusions, interface of phases and particularly at high stress spots because of the strong local affinity to hydrogen. The conclusion that stress induces the hydrogen embrittlement which initiates from the crystal defects of materials has been proved by the visible evidence which was obtained from this work. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.