Recent advances on hydrogen embrittlement of structural materials

This paper presents a critical review of current understanding of the effect of hydrogen on fracture and fatigue of metals and alloys. First, microstructures found immediately beneath hydrogen-induced fracture surfaces in various materials are presented. Then, recent progress toward the fundamentals of hydrogen-induced fracture is reported. Lastly, a recent attempt to model hydrogen embrittlement by linking the macroscale (e.g. applied load and hydrogen content) and the operating microscopic degradation mechanism at the local microstructural defect level is reviewed.