The Effect of Electrolytic Hydrogenation on the Plastic Flow of Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

The effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the plastic flow of aluminum alloy D1 was investigated. The studies were performed for the test samples of aluminum alloy subjected to electrolytic hydrogenation in a three electrode electrochemical cell at a controlled constant cathode potential. It is found that the mechanical properties and plastic flow curves of aluminum alloy are affected adversely by hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogenated counterpart of alloy has a lower degree of ductility relative to the original alloy. The deformation diagrams were examined for the deformed samples of aluminum alloy. These are found to show all the plastic flow stages: the linear, parabolic and pre-failure stages would occur for the respective values of the exponent n from the Ludwik-Holomon equation. Microhardness tests were performed for as-treated aluminum alloy D1. Using scanning electron microscopy method, the changes in the fracture surface were investigated.