MECHANICAL SURFACE STRESSES DURING ELECTROLYTIC HYDROGEN ABSORPTION IN STEEL PLATES.

The embrittling effect of hydrogen is particularly marked in high-strength steels in which the service loads can be reduced by a factor of 20 as a result of saturation with hydrogen. Saturation with hydrogen occurs both during melting and reduction of the metal and in the technological operations for production of artifacts (heat treatment, galvanic coating, etc. ). Using a tensometric apparatus, the authors have determined the stresses at the surface of flat specimens during one-sided electrolytic hydrogen absorption. Hydrogen absorption in the specimens was effected in 10% HCl without an inhibitor and with an inhibitor (40-50 g/liter of urotropin), in 10% H//2SO//4 solution with SeSO//4 (2 mg/liter) as stimulator, with a current density of 9 mA/cm**2 at room temperature.