A Technique for the Evaluation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Characteristics of Electroplating Baths

A simple electrochemical technique is described for measuring the quantity of hydrogen permeating a thin membrane of iron or steel during cathodic charging or electroplating. For cadmium electroplating, the quantity is small when this metal is deposited from a fluoborate or a DL‐α‐amino‐n‐butyrate bath, but comparatively high when a cyanide bath is used. The mechanism which governs hydrogen permeation in alkaline solutions containing capillary active anionic species is discussed, and the remarkable similarity between hydrogen permeation and hydrogen induced brittle fracture of high strength steel is demonstrated.