Hydrogen Formation on Phase Boundaries of Sn/Al

The present paper continues our earlier study of the embrittlement of Sn-Al eutectic alloy in water vapor and hydrogen emission from it, Atomically clean interfaces of solid phase joints of Sn with Al served as simple phase boundary models for this system. It was found by SIMS, X-ray and SEM techniques that the brittleness is caused by chemical adsorption of hydrogen on phase boundaries. This process is facilitated by structural defects. The reaction of hydrogen with phase boundary occurs first in regions of micro-and submicrocracks. The effect is irreversible one and it is associated with the formation of SnH4 that is instable and decomposes at the room temperature. The phase boundary of Sn/Al has specific physical and chemical properties responsible for the formation of atomic hydrogen and its reaction with Sn.