The dual role of dissolution at a crack tip

The scientific literature is rife with conflicting reports regarding the effect of dissolution on fracture. The complexity arises, in part, due to dissolution often being intertwined with various other mechanisms such as hydrogen embrittlement and the formation of debris behind an advancing crack, which can obfuscate the sole contribution of dissolution. Here, we report on the effect of dissolution when acting in isolation via the utilization of an efficient atomistic-based multiscale modeling technique and a specialized interatomic potential. Our results reveal a dual role of dissolution on crack behavior, introducing an additional layer of complexity to the mechanistic basis of environmental effects. This finding, while challenging for engineering prognosis, provides a route for engineering improved materials. Recognizing and navigating this duality could be pivotal to precluding potentially disastrous consequences in a broad array of engineering applications, from harnessing earth’s energy resources to aerospace technologies.