Hydrogen embrittlement of nickel-titanium alloy in biological environment

A nickel-titanium superelastic alloy is susceptible to environmental embrittlement in a corrosive atmosphere. Because a delayed fracture of the alloy is associated with hydrogen absorption and subsequent formation of brittle hydride phases, the diffusion rate of hydrogen is thought to be one of the factors determining its service life. The Ni-Ti alloys subjected to hydrogen charging of 1 or 10 A/m2 for 24 or 120 hours, respectively, were arranged using an electrochemical system. Both the hardness numbers in the cross-sectional area of the alloy and the amount of evolved hydrogen were determined. The fracture surface of the alloys, under tension, was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Theoretical distributions of the hydrogen concentration were computed for an infinite cylinder model using the differential equation of diffusion. The diffusion constant of hydrogen through the alloy is estimated to be 9×10−15 m2/s, assuming that the hardness is proportional to the concentration of hydride and/or hydrogen. Experimental results of the hardness measurements and fractography support the estimated diffusion constant. The process of fracture formation in a biological corrosive environment was discussed. It was concluded that galvanic currents and fretting corrosion of the alloy might be effective factors in fracture formation during function.