Paramagnetic spin resonance in hydrogen-charged stainless austenitic steel

Hydrogen-charged stainless austenitic steel Cr18Mn20 alloyed with 0.88 mass % of nitrogen is studied using a magnetic spin resonance method. The steel is paramagnetic before as well as after hydrogen charging, which allows one to observe electron spin resonance (ESR). It is shown that hydrogen causes a significant increase of the signal from conduction electrons in the ESR spectrum (CESR), i.e., it increases the concentration of free electrons in the alloy. Hydrogen charging results also in a stronger exchange interactio n between free and localized electrons. The kinetics of desorption of hydro gen from the sample is studied and the value of the enthalpy of hydrogen mi gration in the crystal lattice is evaluated from the studies of the decay o f the CESR signal.