Font Size: 

Fracture mechanics based techniques can be used to study the
phenomena of stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement and to model
the degradation of metallic materials caused by the uptake of atomic hydrogen.
Constant extension rate tensile experiments were performed on both smooth and
pre-cracked specimens of Mg alloys at various strain rates in a corrosive
environment and, for reference, in laboratory air. The experiments show the
embrittlement caused by theuptake of atomic hydrogen which is generated in the
corrosion reaction of the magnesium . It is discussed whether these experimental
findings can be simulated and to some extent rationalised by applying a mesoscale
model which has previously been used to mimic the effect of hydrogen
embrittlement in steels.