Effect of hydrogen accumulation on mechanical property and microstructure of V–Cr–Ti alloys

Pure vanadium, V–5Cr, V–5Ti and V–5Cr–5Ti alloys doped with different amounts of hydrogen were tested under tension and observed under TEM in order to clarify the interaction between hydrogen and vanadium. Hydrogenated samples tested under tension showed a typical hydrogen-embrittlement behavior. TEM observation suggests that the embrittlement is caused by hydrogen diffusion at the triple point of grain boundaries, hydride formation and the subsequent generation of dislocations and micro-cracks.