An analysis of the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of aluminum alloys

By means of quantum chemistry, it is established that tungsten and rhenium are most effective alloying elements capable of increasing the resistance of aluminum alloys to hydrogen-induced embrittlement. Tungsten (W) and rhenium (Re) atoms produce strong compression of aluminum lattice, while having sufficiently large covalent radii. In addition, each W and Re atom forms stable chemical bonds with 12 surrounding Al atoms. As a result, W and Re dopants strongly bind Al atoms, thus significantly increasing the energy of vacancy formation and suppressing the process of hydrogen-induced embrittlement. The main mechanical properties of the most hydrogen-resistant aluminum compound, WReAl$_{24}$, have been calculated using the density functional theory.