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Stress Intensity Factor Dependence Of Hg-Al Liquid Metal Embrittlement, Scott Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When high strength aluminum alloys are subjected to liquid metals, physical and chemical reactions ensue resulting in what is known as liquid metal embrittlement (LME). A subset of environmentally-assisted cracking, LME is exhibited when a liquid metal, e.g. Hg or Ga, comes into intimate contact with a solid metal having significant susceptibility. As mechanical loads are applied, the interaction between the two metals results in a reduction in the flow properties of the solid metal. Several theories have been proposed to identify the underlying microstructural failure mechanism; however, none have been widely accepted, as failures can typically incorporate features common …