Hydrogen Embrittlement- Steel Alloys

[wforider]

I have a SCM435 part that is loaded in shear which I'm concerned about hydrogen embrittlement. Hardness is specified at HRC: 28-32. Finish is Ni-SnCO Barrel plating. The material and finish were shosen for their yield strength and toughness.

My questions are:

1) Do my specs lend a part that is susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement?
2) If so, is there a better material and/or finish to reduce or eliminate this concern?

Thanks in advance

 

[swall]

Hydrogen embrittlement manifests itself under conditions of tensile loading. If your part is actually loaded in pure shear and there are no residual tensile stresses, you should not have a problem. Even with tensile stresses, your hardness is at the very bottom end of the range where hydrogen embrittlement would be a concern. Is the barrel plating process electrolytic or is it mechanical plating?

 

[wforider]

Well, the loading may be better described as shear and some bending with tensile on one half of a cylinder. Right, I chose that hardness range to meet strength requirements and minimize HE. The plating is electrolytic.