Hydrogen Induced Phenomena in Iron and Low Carbon Steel

Abstract

We had previously reported that X-ray patterns were affected in consequence of plastic deformation of iron and low carbon steels due to induction of hydrogen into them. We later learned that it was possible to effect electrolysis of the materials to formation of new phases and even of hydrides by charging them with current for an extended period of time. It became evident also that of the matrix phases thus formed, the body-centered cubic lattices were transformed into austenite of face-centered crystalline structure with lattice constant a=3.57A°, while others were transformed into ε' hydride with closely packed hexagonal crystalline structure of c/a=1.8. In order to investigate the mode of the lattice distortion under hydrogen charge, the constituent single crystals under hydrogen charge were submitted to the Laue photography, both normal and diverged. It was made clear from the study of these films obtained that the lattice distortions were due to discontinuity occurring between the crystals and the asterisms following them.