Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) is a process where metals, most notably high-strength steels, become brittle and fracture following exposure to hydrogen. Atomic hydrogen diffuses into the metal lattice and reduces its 延展性 and load-bearing capacity. Key proposed mechanisms include Hydrogen-Enhanced Decohesion (HEDE), which weakens atomic bonds, and Hydrogen-Enhanced Localized Plasticity (HELP), which facilitates dislocation motion and localized failure.
