Dynamic and static hydrogen effects on mechanical properties in pure vanadium

Abstract To clarify hydrogen effects on mechanical properties of pure vanadium, two kinds of tensile tests were performed using hydrogen charged miniature specimens at room temperature. One is with hydrogen charging prior to testing, and the other is with hydrogen charging during testing with continuous or intermittent methods. The cathodic hydrogen charging was carried out electrolytically in various concentrations of H2SO4 with different current densities. The hydrogen charged specimens were tested to obtain stress–strain curves. The fractography was performed by SEM, and hydride formation and microstructural change were examined by TEM. Hydrogen-induced softening and hardening in vanadium resulted from hydrogen charging. The variations in mechanical property of specimens depended on the amount of dissolved hydrogen, that was determined by hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen desorption. Dislocation motion also plays a role in the variation of flow stress.