Effects of elastic strain energies on a hydride precipitation in LaNi 5 -based compounds

The elastic energies associated with hydride formation have been calculated using coherent elasticity theory. The energies modify the required condition for hydride nucleation to lower temperatures or higher hydrogen gas pressures. Since the elastic energies are quite large, hydride cannot form in a crystal or on a planer surface without assistance of a lattice defect. Hydride can form with reasonable excess hydrogen gas pressure only at a corner of specimen at which the most part of elastic energy is released.