Deterioration of Property of Aluminum Alloys (EN AW-1050A, EN AW-5754 and EN AW-6060) by Absorbed Hydrogen

Abstract

The paper reports the results of research on the effect of hydrogen penetration on the variations in the mechanical properties of selected aluminum alloys. As a result of the study, it can be observed that such variations contribute to the deterioration of mechanical properties, which, in turn, contributes to shortening the reliability time associated with the operation of aluminum alloy structures. The analysis involved structural aluminum alloys: EN AW-1050A, EN AW-5754 and EN AW-6060. Tensile strength and impact strength were measured. It was demonstrated that the absorption of hydrogen by the analyzed alloys led to the deterioration of mechanical properties of aluminum alloys. The performed measurements were compared to the previous research results regarding the influence of hydrogen on the deterioration of corrosion properties. The analysis of the influence of hydrogen on both issues allowed us to notice the reasons for shortening the operational reliability time of aluminum alloy parts. The awareness of the influence of hydrogen on aluminum alloys may contribute to the development of hydrogen systems or installations in which aluminum alloys can be used as a construction material, e.g., fuel cells, hydrogen supply pipes, block of combustion engine powered by hydrogen, etc. In the era of the development of zero-emission vehicles, the use of hydrogen as fuel is gaining more and more importance, where the influence of hydrogen on the properties of materials is an important issue.