Plated structure exhibiting low hydrogen embrittlement

Abstract

A coated metallic article, such as a high strength steel, that exhibits low hydrogen embrittlement carries an electrodeposited coating having a microstructure characterized by a plurality of interconnected escape channels that extend from the coating-substrate interface to the surface of the coating. Determining the presence of the escape channels as well as other microstructural features enables one to readily monitor and control plating processes to assure the production of articles that exhibit low hydrogen embrittlement. Low hydrogen embrittlement characteristics are also linked to the amount of residual hydrogen in the substrate after plating and subsequent heat treatment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.