HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT OF MAGNESIUM ALLOYS - THERMAL DESORPTION ANALYSIS (TDA) STUDY

Hydrogen embrittlement is a form of environmentally-assisted failure, which caused by the action of hydrogen, often in combination with residual or applied stress, results in a reduction in the load-bearing capacity of a component. This study deals with pure Mg, AZ61, AM60 and AZ31. After charging these materials with hydrogen, hydrides are formed as well as second phases. The interaction with hydrogen and the defects in these materials are being studied by thermal desorption analysis (TDA).

The present research work will contribute to a better understanding of the different hydrogen trapping sites with magnesium alloys. Specifically, we aim to evaluate the interaction between the defects by calculating the activation energy and the binding energy between the hydrogen and the defects in the afore-mentioned materials. Using TDA we can identify the traps and predict the failure of the chosen material in the presence of hydrogen. The relation between the microstructure and hydrogen trapping of the different magnesium alloys in the presence of hydrogen will be discussed in detail.