Abstract
The tensile properties of single crystals of high purity ferritic stainless steel were investigated under cathodic charging. The susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and the fracture morphology were influenced prominently by the tensile axis orientation. In the [001]-oriented specimen, the susceptibility to HE had a maximum and the fracture surface was characterized by the cleavage growth along (001) plane which was perpendicular to the tensile axis. On the other hand, the susceptibility of the [101]-oriented specimen had a minimum and the fracture surface with some small cleavage facets was observed. From the results of stereographic analysis, these facets were composed of two equivalent {100} planes in schmid factor.
