Testing method for hydrogen embrittlement

A method for testing for hydrogen embrittlement, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a tensile load to a metal test specimen comprising a notched area and sustaining the load for a selected duration to incubate potential hydrogen embrittlement cracks with a sub-critical flaw size if sufficient hydrogen is present in the test specimen;
• then, while sustaining the load, immersing and chilling the notched area with a cryogenic fluid reducing the sub-critical flaw size for any hydrogen embrittlement cracks incubated;
• and
• with the sustained load, fracturing the notched area if the sub-critical flaw size of any hydrogen embrittlement cracks incubated reaches a critical flaw size, wherein the selected duration is determined by comparing an amount of time it takes to fracture at or above room temperature test specimens having known hydrogen at dangerous levels versus an amount of time it takes to fracture identically prepared test specimens having known hydrogen at dangerous levels when chilled with the cryogenic fluid.