STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF LIQUID ENVIRONMENT ON THE EMBRITTLEMENT OF SOLIDS

The effect of environment on the mechanical properties of solids was investigated. The two principal systems studied were: The embrittlement of copper and copper alloys in mercury and mercury amalgams. The embrittlement of silver chloride in aqueous solutions. The principal factors studied were alloy composition; microstructure, including grain size, precipitation effects, grain boundary orientation relationships; and composition of the liquid environment. In general it was found that embrittlement could be attributed to adsorption of 'active' ions at sites of high stress concentration in the solid, with this adsorption resulting in lower cohesion between solid-solid bonds. High stress concentrations are associated with the dislocation interactions at high angle grain boundaries, precipitates and notches. (Author)