Hydrogen Induced Fracture of a High Strength Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

A fractographic study has been carried out on intergranular and transgranular cracks produced in the commercial aluminum alloy 7075 in a 3% NaCl aqueous solution and in ionized hydrogen gas. It has been demonstrated that fracture in both environments is similar, suggesting a common mechanism of crack growth. It is concluded that stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is mechanical and involves hydrogen generated by the aqueous solution.