This program is applying our knowledge of the mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement of metals to develop an understanding of the factors which strengthen alloys against environmental attack. The systems studied include high-strength aluminum alloys, beta titanium alloys, and the high-alloy nickel-based alloys. The experimental techniques used include mechanical property tests, electron microscopy, in situ environmental cell TEM, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Auger spectroscopy. In most of the above alloys the studies include the effects of solutes and hydrogen on grain boundary fracture.

The effects of hydrogen on the structure and properties of intermetallics (nickel and iron aluminides) are being studied using the environmental cell TEM and other analytical techniques. To understand the role of the environment on the lack of ductility in polycrystalline Ni₃Al, the effect of boron on the distribution of deuterium around grain boundaries is being mapped by using SIMS.

The interactions of gaseous hydrogen environments on the properties of metal systems is being studied directly by using an environmental cell TEM. Use of this microscope permits gas-solid interactions to be studied in real time and at high spatial resolution. The focus of the program is primarily on the effects of aggressive environments on the mechanical behavior. Specifically, we are investigating the effect of hydrogen on the stress field of dislocations and on the stacking-fault energy by monitoring the change in dislocation node spacing in the presence and absence of gas.

Ti-based alloys are being considered for a wide range of aerospace applications, and in some uses they will be exposed to elevated temperatures and harsh chemical environments. This program is aimed at developing an understanding of the effects of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of B-Ti alloys. Studies of the effect of hydrogen on the bulk mechanical properties are coupled to results from deformation experiments performed in a gaseous environment in situ in a TEM. This combination of experimental techniques allows the bulk property changes to be understood from a microscopic point of view.

The ability of ceramic materials to withstand high-temperature and hostile environments offers great prospects for potential major improvements in the design performance of high-temperature components in chemical processing, power generation, and industrial waste recovery applications. Their use as structural materials, however, has been limited primarily because of their poor fracture toughness and lack of damage tolerance. The purpose of this program is to examine the fundamental micromechanisms of high-temperature subcritical crack growth in three classes of ceramic-matrix composites chosen to reflect different primary room temperature toughening mechanisms, namely, crack deflection, crack trapping, and crack bridging.

The fracture mechanisms of particulate-reinforced metal-matrix composites are examined in several aluminum- and titanium-matrix composites at room and elevated temperatures. Most composite systems show a low-temperature fracture behavior controlled primarily by the reinforcing particles, with the matrix playing an inactive role in resisting the crack growth. The fracture properties of these composites are characterized by low fracture toughness, relatively flat R-curves, and weak dependence on the composition and microstructure of the matrix alloy. It is shown that a more efficient use of the matrix plasticity, which makes the fracture process more matrix-dominated, can lead to significant improvement in the fracture properties of these composites.