Analysis of hydrogen absorption by Ti and Ti–6Al–4V using the ERDA technique

Ti and Ti–6Al–4V alloy samples were hydrogenated at different temperatures from 150°C to 750°C. They were analyzed using elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) with 3 MeV α particles and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) with 6.585 MeV α particles. ERDA shows an increase in the amount of hydrogen absorbed for temperatures greater than 550°C in both materials, reaching concentrations of almost 3×1022 H atoms/cm3. The Ti shows cracks after hydrogenation and loses its mechanical properties; not so the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. A subsequent loss of hydrogen was measured in all the samples after several months.