Effects of hydrogen on low temperature hardening and embrittlement of V-Cr alloys

The effects of H on the strength and ductility of V-Cr alloys were investigated from 78 to 300 K. Alloy softening which was observed at low temperatures for a V-2.5Cr alloy was mitigated by the addition of H. Hydrogen embrittlement, as measured by reduction of area, was observed in both hydride forming and nonhydride forming alloys. Analysis of the strengthening in hydrogenated V-Cr alloys showed that the predominate effect of H was to increase the thermally activated component of the yield stress. Comparison of the solid solution hardening effect caused by Cr or Ti in V showed that Ti produces greater strengthening, atom for atom, than does Cr, but that the difference cannot be explained solely by larger size and modulus misfits of solute and solvent atoms