3. A new approach to hydrogen embrittlement

Despite the "vital aspect" of the so-called "outgassing" operation on hardened, electrolytically-coated and stressed industrial parts under operating conditions, we have shown in the above that during the "outgassing" treatment, hydrogen can diffuse from the zinc coating to the steel (VD SiCr, C10 and C60) or vice versa (11SMnPb37; 20MnB5) (figure 3 ). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the possible hydrogenation of the thermally activated matrix during the "degassing" operation is not a source of embrittlement in the steel once it has been placed under stress (figures...