Hydrogen effects on the spall strength and fracture characteristics of amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy at very high strain rates

A approach is suggested, using laser-induced shock wave measurements to est imate the effects of cathodic hydrogen charging on the mechanical propertie s and fracture characteristics of materials. This approach is applied to (1 ) determine the dominant mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in an amo rphous Fe80B11Si9 alloy; and (2) estimate the effects of the high pressures involved in cathodic charging. The dynamic spall strength of an amorphous Fe80B11Si9 alloy shocked before and after hydrogenation by a high-power las er to very high pressures (tens of giga Pascals) is measured. The dynamic s pall strength of crystalline iron is measured as well for comparison. An op tically recording velocity interferometer system (ORVIS) is used to measure the profile of the free surface velocity in time. The spall strength and t he strain rate are calculated from the measurement of the free surface velo city as a function of time. Fracture characteristics are studied by scannin g electron microscopy (SEM). The main conclusions are (1) the most reasonab le mechanism of HE in the amorphous Fe-Si-B alloy is the high-pressure bubb le formation; (2) the high pressures involved in cathodic hydrogen charging or laser-induced shock waves measurements may have similar effects on frac ture characteristics; and (3) at very high strain rates, the spall strength is determined mainly by the interatomic bonds.