In-situ synchrotron-based high energy X-ray diffraction study of the deformation mechanism of δ-hydrides in a commercially pure titanium

We used by in-situ high energy X-ray diffraction to investigate the deformation behavior of Grade 2 commercially pure titanium that was hydrogen charged to form hydrides. The results showed that the peak broadening in the diffraction patterns are due to the high internal and interphase stresses generated within and around hydrides due to the volume expansion induced by the phase transformation. The hydrides exhibit a typical high strength but brittle secondary phase behavior, which undertakes more elastic strain than matrix and is the location where cracks are first generated. Interestingly, the δ-hydrides sustain larger strains than the matrix, especially after the matrix yields. This study on the deformation mechanism of hydrides in pure titanium provides insight into the hydride deformation behavior and hydrogen embrittlement in both titanium and zirconium.