Hydrogen induced cracking and pitting of brass heat exchanger tube

Tin brass heat exchanger tube specimens were precharged with hydrogen at different cathodic charging conditions. Cathodic hydrogen charging was found to induce severe cracking and blistering on the surface of brass heat exchanger tube without externally applied stress. Microscopic observations revealed that the hydrogen cracks were intergranular (IG) or transgranular (TG) or mixed mode of cracking, i.e. IG and TG, while the blisters were...