Breaking the Configuration of Hydride to Repair Hydride–Induced Degradation by Applying an Electric Field

Titanium readily reacts with hydrogen to form hydrides, which greatly deteriorates their mechanical properties. In particular, the continuous hydride network provides a path for crack initiation and propagation. In this study, the hydrogen–charged pure titanium with continuous hydride network were treated by an external electric field and traditional heat treatment. It was found that the mechanical properties of the hydrogen–charged pure titanium were effectively repaired after the electric field treatment, while the heat treatment failed. The recovery of mechanical properties of the hydrogen–charged pure titanium can be attributed to the disintegration of the continuous hydride network and the decrease of hydrogen content under an external electric field. The inhomogeneity of current distribution caused by the different electrical properties of the hydride and the Ti–matrix is the main reason for this change, causing the continuous hydride network to decompose at temperatures lower than that of conventional tempering. This particular method can not only be used for the repair of hydride–induced embrittlement, but also can be extended to the optimization of thermos–hydrogen treatment and the rapid hydrogen release of metal–hydride hydrogen storage materials