Investigation of mechanical properties of stress-relieved and electron-irradiated tungsten after hydrogen charging

Highlights: • The tensile behavior, tensile fracture surface, and hardness of as-received and stress-relieved tungsten did not change after hydrogen charging, owing to the low solubility of hydrogen. • In electron-irradiated tungsten, the hardness increased at doses greater than 1 × 10⁻⁴ dpa after hydrogen charging. • Single vacancies decorated with hydrogen atoms are expected to obstruct dislocation motion. - Abstract: The effect of hydrogen on the hardness and tensile properties of pure tungsten was examined using Vickers hardness and tensile tests. Samples were exposed to high-pressure hydrogen gas (5.8 MPa). The tensile behavior, tensile fracture surface, and hardness of as-received and stress-relieved tungsten did not change after hydrogen charging, owing to the low solubility of hydrogen. Therefore, to understand the effect of hydrogen on these materials, experiments must be performed to trap more hydrogen atoms at dislocations. In contrast, the hardness of electron-irradiated tungsten increased after hydrogen charging. Additionally, after a heat treatment at 473 K, hydrogen atoms dissociated from single vacancies, and the hardness decreased to the pre-charged value. Thus, single vacancies decorated with hydrogen atoms are expected to obstruct dislocation motion.