Hydrogen Diffusion In Metals

The present work draws upon Diffusion and Defect Forum's 30-year project of summarizing recent progress in the fields of diffusion and defect research, by collating the relevant data which have been published during that time. The large number of studies of iron alloys reflects the great commercial importance of hydrogen embrittlement; an annoying phenomenon which has long plagued steel fabricators.

This book describes the central aspects of diffusion in solids, and goes on to provide easy access to important information about diffusion in metals, alloys, semiconductors, ion-conducting materials, glasses and nanomaterials. Coverage includes diffusion-controlled phenomena including ionic conduction, grain-boundary and dislocation pipe diffusion. This book will benefit graduate students in such disciplines as solid-state physics, physical metallurgy, materials science, and geophysics, as well as scientists in academic and industrial research laboratories.

Due to its small size, the hydrogen atom is, wanted or unwanted, an ubiquitous diffusant in many metallic systems. It has long been known for its harmful effect upon mild steel sheet; the deleterious phenomenon of hydrogen-embrittlement having been recognized since the early days of the industrial revolution. Its behavior in some metals is further complicated by its tendency to form hydrides with the metal, or with various non-metallic impurities. The ability of some metals and alloys to store large quantities of hydrogen - first recognized in the 19th century - is another complicating factor. The complexity of metal-hydrogen behavior was undoubtedly also the cause of the mistaken 'cold fusion' claims of the late 1980s. The present issue comprises a compilation of hydrogen diffusion and permeation data in metals. These data are believed to be 'pure': that is, free from the interfering effects of hydride formation, etc. The almost 600 entries, 201 tables and 41 figures cover the period from 1966 to 2013. These are supplemented by an original review, by T.B.Flanagan of the University of Vermont, which has as its subject, The Role of the Thermodynamic Factor in Hydrogen Diffusion in Metal and Alloy Membranes.

The book presents a collection of chapters on the current problems associated with hydrogen damage. It discusses the effect of hydrogen on material properties and its interaction with the material microstructure, physical features of hydrogen transport in metals and alloys, as well as applicable methods of measuring concentration of hydrogen in solid media.