Unveiling the nature of hydrogen embrittlement in bearing steels employing a new technique

Hydrogen-charged and non-charged 1C–1.5Cr steel has been subjected to mechanical testing. Rolling contact fatigue life is dramatically reduced in the presence of hydrogen, while hardness and impact toughness remain nearly unchanged. The controlled formation of cracks in hydrogen-rich samples is demonstrated to continuously release hydrogen, supporting the view that hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity is the principal hydrogen embrittlement mechanism in bearing steels. A new technique to determine the nature of the hydrogen embrittlement process is proposed.