Hydrogen embrittlement of aged and retrogressed-reaged AlLiCuMg alloys

Abstract

The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of Al-2.30 Li-1.24 Cu-0.80 Mg-0.12 Zr and Al-1.90 Li-1.80 Cu-1 Mg-0.09 Zr alloys in different artificial aging tempers and after retrogression and reaging (RRA) treatments has been investigated by tensile testing hydrogen precharged specimens. The influence of RRA and hydrogen charging on the dislocation structure was studied by TEM. The under-aged temper was the most susceptible while the peak-aged temper was the most resistant to HE. The RRA treatment improved the HE resistance of all the tempers. This has been attributed to the reduction in dislocation density upon retrogression and reaging. The alloy with the lower Li content exhibited improved HE resistance. Flat fractographic features near the surface of the hydrogen charged specimen have been correlated to the depth of hydrogen penetration. The formation of LiAlH 4 and LiH in hydrogen charged AlLi alloys has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The hydrogen-dislocation interaction and hydride cracking mechanisms of HE have been addressed.