Hydrogen Embrittlement of High Strength Steel by Zinc Electroplating and Visualization of Pre-Cracking

To clarify factors causing hydrogen embrittlement from zinc plating on high-strength steel, high-strength steel sheets with zinc plating were loaded within the elastic limit for assessment by three-point bending. They were then unloaded. Crack initiation sources leading to rupture were visualized for the loaded part. Thereby, pre-cracks became observable before rupture.