This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: F1624 − 12 (Reapproved 2018)

Standard Test Method for

Measurement of Hydrogen Embrittlement Threshold in Steel
by the Incremental Step Loading Technique1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1624; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

INTRODUCTION

Hydrogen embrittlement is caused by the introduction of hydrogen into steel that can initiate
fracture as a result of residual stress or in service when external stress is applied (1).2 The hydrogen
can be generated during cleaning or plating processes or the exposure of cathodically protected steel
parts to a service environment including fluids, cleaning treatments, or maintenance chemicals that
may contact the surface of steel components. This method can be used to rapidly determine the effects
of residual hydrogen in a part caused by processing or quantify the relative susceptibility of a material
under a fixed set of hydrogen-charging conditions.
The combined residual and applied stress above which time-delayed fracture will occur (finite life)
or below which fracture will never occur (infinite life) is called the threshold stress or threshold stress
intensity (K) for precracked specimens. Historically, sustained load time-to-failure tests have been
conducted on notched bars to determine the threshold stress for the onset of hydrogen stress cracking.
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This technique may require 12 to 14 specimens and several high-load capacity machines. For
precracked specimens, the run-out time can be as long as four to five years per U.S. Navy requirements

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for low-strength steels at 33 to 35 HRC. In Test Method E1681, more than 10 000 h (> one year) are
specified for low-strength steel (< 175 ksi) and 5000 h for high-strength steel (> 175 ksi).
This standard provides an accelerated method to measure the threshold stress or threshold stress
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intensity as defined in Test Method E1681 for the onset of hydrogen stress cracking in steel within one
week on only one machine. The specific application of this standard to hydrogen embrittlement testing
of fasteners is described in Annex A1.
ASTM F1624-12(2018)
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1. Scope 1.2.2 The effect of residual hydrogen in the steel as a result
1.1 This test method establishes a procedure to measure the of processing, such as melting, thermal mechanical working,
susceptibility of steel to a time-delayed failure such as that surface treatments, coatings, and electroplating;
caused by hydrogen. It does so by measuring the threshold for 1.2.3 The effect of hydrogen introduced into the steel caused
the onset of subcritical crack growth using standard fracture by external environmental sources of hydrogen, such as fluids
mechanics specimens, irregular-shaped specimens such as and cleaners maintenance chemicals, petrochemical products,
notched round bars, or actual product such as fasteners (2) and galvanic coupling in an aqueous environment.
(threaded or unthreaded) springs or components as identified in
SAE J78, J81, and J1237. 1.3 The test is performed either in air, to measure the effect
if residual hydrogen is in the steel because of the processing
1.2 This test method is used to evaluate quantitatively: (IHE), or in a controlled environment, to measure the effect of
1.2.1 The relative susceptibility of steels of different com- hydrogen introduced into the steel as a result of the external
position or a steel with different heat treatments; sources of hydrogen (EHE) as detailed in ASTM STP 543.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F07 on as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Aerospace and Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F07.04 on conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Hydrogen Embrittlement.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018. Published December 2018. Originally and are not considered standard.
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F1624 – 12. DOI:
10.1520/F1624-12R18. NOTE 1—The values stated in metric units may not be exact equivalents.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Conversion of the inch-pound units by appropriate conversion factors is
this standard. required to obtain exact equivalence.

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 F1624 − 12 (2018)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the J1237 Metric Thread Rolling Screws
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 2.3 ANSI/ASME:6
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- B18.18.2M Inspection and Quality Assurance for High-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- Volume Machine Assembly Fasteners, 1987
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. B18.18.3M Inspection and Quality Assurance for Special
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor- Purpose Fasteners, 1987
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- B18.18.4M Inspection and Quality Assurance for Fasteners
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the for Highly Specialized Engineering Applications, 1987
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 2.4 Related Publications:7
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical ASTM STP 543, Hydrogen Embrittlement Testing, 1974
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. ASTM STP 962, Hydrogen Embrittlement: Prevention and
Control, 1985
2. Referenced Documents
3. Terminology
2.1 ASTM Standards:3
A490 Specification for Structural Bolts, Alloy Steel, Heat 3.1 Symbols—Terms not defined in this section can be found
Treated, 150 ksi Minimum Tensile Strength (Withdrawn in Terminologies F2078 and E6 and shall be considered as
2016)4 applicable to the terms used in this test method.
A574 Specification for Alloy Steel Socket-Head Cap Screws 3.1.1 P—applied load.
B602 Test Method for Attribute Sampling of Metallic and 3.1.2 Pc—critical load required to rupture a specimen using
Inorganic Coatings a continuous loading rate.
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines 3.1.3 Pi—crack initiation load for a given loading and
E6 Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing environmental condition using an incrementally increasing
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials load under displacement control.
[Metric] E0008_E0008M
3.1.4 Pth—the invariant threshold load. Pth is the basis for
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
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Determine Conformance with Specifications
E399 Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture
calculating the threshold stress or the threshold stress intensity.
3.1.5 Pth-n—the threshold load at a specified loading rate.

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Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
E812 Test Method for Crack Strength of Slow-Bend Pre-
3.1.6 EHE—Environmental Hydrogen Embrittlement —
test conducted in a specified hydrogen-charging environment.

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cracked Charpy Specimens of High-Strength Metallic 3.1.7 IHE—Internal Hydrogen Embrittlement — test con-
Materials (Withdrawn 2005)4 ducted in air.
E1681 Test Method for Determining Threshold Stress Inten- 3.1.8 th—threshold — the lowest load at which subcritical
sity Factor for Environment-Assisted Cracking of Metallic cracking can be detected.
Materials ASTM F1624-12(2018) 3.2 Irregular Geometry-Type Specimens—test sample other
F519 Test Method for Mechanical Hydrogen Embrittlement
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than a fracture mechanics-type specimen; examples include a
Evaluation of Plating/Coating Processes and Service En- notched round bar or fastener.
vironments 3.2.1 σ = applied stress.
F606 Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Proper- 3.2.2 σnet = net stress based on area at minimum diameter of
ties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners, notched round bar or per Test Method E812 for bend speci-
Washers, and Rivets (Metric) F0606_F0606M mens.
F2078 Terminology Relating to Hydrogen Embrittlement 3.2.3 σi = stress at crack initiation.
Testing 3.2.4 σth = threshold stress.
G5 Reference Test Method for Making Potentiodynamic 3.2.5 σth-EHE = EHE threshold stress — test conducted in a
Anodic Polarization Measurements specified hydrogen charging environment — geometry depen-
G129 Practice for Slow Strain Rate Testing to Evaluate the dent.
Susceptibility of Metallic Materials to Environmentally 3.2.6 σth-IHE = IHE threshold stress — test conducted in air
Assisted Cracking — geometry dependent.
2.2 SAE Standards:5 3.2.7 FFS = Fast Fracture Strength.
J78 Self-Drilling Tapping Screws 3.2.8 Kth-EHE = EHE threshold stress intensity at a specified
J81 Thread Rolling Screws loading rate — test conducted in a specified hydrogen charging
environment — not geometry dependent.
3.2.9 Kth-IHE = IHE threshold stress intensity at a specified
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or loading rate — test conducted in air — not geometry depen-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM dent.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
4 6
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
www.astm.org. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
5 7
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Available from ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Dr., PO Box C700, West
Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. Conshohocken, PA 19428.

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3.2.10 KIEHE = invariant value of the EHE threshold stress 5.4 For fasteners, the value of σth-IHE is used to specify
intensity — test conducted in a specified hydrogen charging quantitatively the maximum stress during installation and in
environment — not geometry dependent — equivalent to service to avoid premature failure caused by residual hydrogen
KIEAC. in the steel as a result of processing.
3.2.11 KIIHE = invariant value of the IHE threshold stress 5.5 For fasteners, the value of σth-EHE is used to specify
intensity — test conducted in air — not geometry dependent. quantitatively the maximum stress during installation and in
3.2.12 KISCC = invariant value of the threshold stress inten- service to avoid failure from hydrogen absorbed during expo-
sity for stress corrosion cracking—test conducted under open sure to a specific environment.
circuit corrosion potential or freely corroding conditions—not
geometry dependent. 5.6 To measure the relative susceptibility of steels to hydro-
3.2.13 SCG = Subcritical Crack Growth. gen pickup from various fabrication processes, a single,
selected, discriminating rate is used to rank the resistance of
4. Summary of Test Method various materials to hydrogen embrittlement.
4.1 The test method is based on determining the onset of 5.7 Annex A1 describes the application of this standard test
subcritical crack growth with a step modified, incrementally method to hydrogen embrittlement testing of fasteners.
increasing, slow strain rate test (Practice G129) under displace-
ment control (3), (4), (5). 6. Apparatus
4.2 This test method measures the load necessary to initiate 6.1 Testing Machine—Testing machines shall be within the
a subcritical crack in the steel at progressively decreasing guidelines of calibration, force range, resolution, and verifica-
loading rates, for specimens of different geometry and different tion of Practices E4.
environmental conditions.
6.2 Gripping Devices—Various types of gripping devices
4.2.1 By progressively decreasing the loading rate, the
shall be used in either tension or four-point bending to transmit
threshold stress can be determined.
the measured load applied by the testing machine to the test
4.3 Four-point bending is used to maintain a constant specimen.

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moment along the specimen. This condition is used to simplify
the calculation of stress or stress intensity for an irregular cross 6.3 Test Environment—The test shall be conducted in air or
section. any other suitable controlled environment using an appropriate

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inert container.
4.4 The minimum or invariant value of the stress intensity 6.3.1 Potentiostatic Control—The corrosion potential of the
(KISCC, KIIHE, or KIEHE) or stress for a given geometry with specimen can be controlled with a reference saturated calomel
growth due to hydrogen embrittlement. Document Preview
regard to the loading rate, is the threshold for the onset of crack electrode (SCE) or equivalent reference electrode such as
Ag/AgCl in accordance with Test Method G5. The imposed
4.5 In tension (T) and bending (B), the onset of SCG as a potential is typically cathodic, ranging from 0.0 to −1.2 V
result of hydrogen in steel is identified by a concave
ASTMdecrease versus SCE (VSCE) in a 3.5 weight percent NaCl solution (9).
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in load while holding the displacement constant. At net section 6.4 Equipment, such as RSL (trademarked),8 for determin-
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yielding or above, a convex load drop is also observed. ing the onset of SCG with a step modified, incrementally
4.6 The displacement is incrementally increased in tension increasing, slow strain rate test under displacement control.
or four-point bending and the resulting load is monitored.
While the displacement is held constant, the onset of subcriti- 7. Sampling and Test Specimens
cal crack growth is detected when the load decreases. 7.1 Sampling—For research, design, and service evaluation
4.7 The loading rate must be sufficiently slow to permit and development, the sampling size depends on the specific
hydrogen to diffuse and induce cracking that manifests itself as requirements of the investigator. For manufacturing control,
a degradation in strength (see Pollock (6) and (7)). loading rates shall be fixed, but statistically significant sam-
5. Significance and Use pling sizes are used such as Test Methods F606, ANSI/ASME
B18.18.2M, B18.18.3M, or B18.18.4M and Test Method B602
5.1 This test method is used for research, design, service for fasteners. For other quality assurance tests, the sampling
evaluation, manufacturing control, and development. This test size shall be in compliance with the requirements of the
method quantitatively measures stress parameters that are used specification.
in a design or failure analysis that takes into account the effects
of environmental exposure including that which occurs during 7.2 Test Specimens—The test specimen should be classified
processing, such as plating (8) (ASTM STP 962). as either fracture mechanics-type specimens or irregular-
shaped specimens (10).
5.2 For plating processes, the value of σth-IHE is used to
specify quantitatively the maximum operating stress for a
given structure or product. 8
The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this time
5.3 For quality control purposes, an accelerated test is is Fracture Diagnostics International, 20261 SW Acacia St., Newport Beach, CA
92660, http://www.fracturediagnostics.net. If you are aware of alternative suppliers,
devised that uses a specified loading rate, which is equal to or please provide this information to ASTM International Headquarters. Your com-
lower than the loading rate necessary to determine the thresh- ments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical
old stress (see 8.1). committee,1 which you may attend.

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7.2.1 Fracture mechanics-type specimens are defined in 8.1.4 The load Pth-n is the threshold load, which is the load
standards such as Test Method E399. corresponding to the step before the onset of crack growth for
NOTE 2—The maximum stress used during fatigue precracking must be
a specific loading rate.
less than 60 % of any measured value of load for crack initiation for the 8.1.5 The invariant threshold load for the onset of hydrogen
data to be valid. induced stress cracking Pth, is used to calculate KIEHE, KISCC,
7.2.2 Irregular geometry-type specimens shall be either or KIIHE. The invariant threshold load is attained when the
specimens as defined in standards such as Test Method F519 or difference between two subsequent threshold loads is less than
specimens from product. The product shall be tested either 5 % of PFFS. The value of Pth-EHE, Pth-SCC, or Pth-IHE is the
substantially full size or as a machined specimen. lowest measured threshold value.
8.1.6 Referencing Fig. 1, the step load testing protocol can
8. Procedure be summarized as follows:
SN(1)–Baseline: fast fracture test of specimen after plating to
8.1 Determination of Threshold Load (Pth): measure PMAX = PFFS. (This ensures that no cracks initiated or
8.1.1 This test protocol requires that a minimum of three softening occurred during the plating process)
samples be tested to establish the threshold load, Pth. Load one
For the hardness range of >54 HRC (see Fig. 1)
sample to rupture at a rate consistent with Test Methods E8 to SN(2)–(20/5/1) @ PMAX = PFFS; → Pth-1
establish the fast fracture strength (FFS) or load, PFFS, for a SN(3)–(20/5/1) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-1; → Pth-2
given specimen geometry, (PFFS = Pc in Fig. 1). This test SN(4)–(20/5/1) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-2; → Pth-3
and if necessary;
provides the baseline reference data. SN(5)–(20/5/1) @PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-3; → Pth-4
8.1.2 The specific load profile depends on the hardness of measures Pth-EHE, Pth-SCC, or Pth-IHE when ∆Pth # 5 % PFFS
the samples within the ranges of ≥33 HRC to 45 HRC; >45
or,
HRC to 54 HRC; and >54 HRC. The notation used for the For the hardness range of >45 HRC to 54 HRC (see Fig. 2)
incremental step load profile is (# / %PMAX/hrs) where # is the SN(2)–(10/5/1,2) @ PMAX = PFFS; → Pth-1
number of steps, % PMAX is the percent of the maximum SN(3)–(10/5/1,2) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-1; → Pth-2
SN(4)–(10/5/1,2) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-2; → Pth-3
anticipated load at each step, and hrs is the hold time for each and if necessary;

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step. For the hardness range of ≥33 HRC to 45 HRC, the
loading profile is (10/5/2,4) or an initial loading profile of 10
steps at 5 % of PFFS at each step for a hold time of 2 h,
SN(5)–(10/5/1,2) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-3; → Pth-4
measures Pth-EHE, Pth-SCC , or Pth-IHE when ∆Pth # 5 % PFFS

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or,
followed by 10 steps at 5 % of PFFS at each step for a hold time For the hardness range of $33 HRC to 45 HRC (see Fig. 3)
of 4 h. Correspondingly, for hardness range of >45 HRC to 54 SN(2)–(10/5/2,4) @ PMAX = PFFS; → Pth-1
SN(3)–(10/5/2,4) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-1; → Pth-2

loading profile is (20/5/1). Document Preview

HRC, the loading profile is (10/5/1,2) and for >54 HRC, the SN(4)–(10/5/2,4) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-2; → Pth-3
and if necessary;
SN(5)–(10/5/2,4) @ PMAX = 1.1 × Pth-3; → Pth-4
8.1.3 In addition to the specific load profile, the subsequent
measures Pth-EHE, Pth-SCC , or Pth-IHE when ∆Pth # 5 % PFFS
PMAX for each load profile is set to 1.1 times the Pth-n of the
ASTM
previous test. The purpose of changing the maximum profile F1624-12(2018)
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load is to reduce the loading rate and increase the resolution
because each subsequent test sample results in a smaller step
load.

FIG. 1 Schematic of a (20/5/1) Step Loading Profile to Determine FIG. 2 Schematic of a (10/5/1,2) Step Loading Profile to Deter-
Threshold for the Hardness of Steel >54 HRC mine Threshold for the Hardness of Steel >45 HRC to 54 HRC

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FIG. 3 Schematic of a (10/5/2,4) Step Loading Profile to Deter- NOTE 1—*See Fig. 5 for calculation of additional increment.
mine Threshold for the Hardness of Steel $ 33 HRC to 45 HRC FIG. 4 Definition of Crack Initiation Load, PI Load and Threshold
Load, Pth

8.1.7 Crack growth shall be considered to have occurred if

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the measured load on a sample drops by more than the
established accuracy of the test apparatus, while the displace-

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ment is held constant, with the exception identified in 8.1.7.1.
8.1.7.1 The threshold is calculated from the load at the last
step to maintain the load for the duration of the step. The
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threshold is defined as the stress or stress intensity calculated
from the load at the onset of crack growth. A 5 % NFS load
drop is used as an arbitrary guideline for the measurement of
the onset of crack growth and is appropriate for materials with
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a rapid crack growth rate. For materials with extremely slow
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crack growth rates, a lesser value of load drop should be
utilized that is more consistent with the visual detection of a
load drop. FIG. 5 Extrapolation Method for Type A Threshold Load Determi-
8.1.7.2 Any load drop depicted as an increasing rate (con- nation
vex) shall be attributed to SCG in the specimen. The load is
defined as the crack initiation load, Pi(see Fig. 4, Type A). The
threshold load, Pth, is the step before initiation of crack growth. 8.1.11 Verification of crack growth is obtained by loading
8.1.8 If the load is maintained for only a fraction of the the tested specimen to fracture. Methods such as Test Methods
duration of the step (x), prior to SCG, the threshold can be E8 or Test Method E399 shall be used. Fractographic analysis
estimated to be an additional increment above the last complete may be used to verify the existence of subcritical cracking.
step (y) by a corresponding fractional amount of the step; that 9. Calculations
is, ∆ = (x/y) of 5 % Pmax used in the example in Fig. 5. If
cracking begins immediately on reaching the next step (x = 0, 9.1 Stress parameters are calculated from the load measure-
Fig. 5), then use the previous load as the threshold, Pth. ments in section 8.1.
8.1.9 Any load drop depicted as a decreasing rate (concave) 9.2 The relationship between load and net stress (σnet) is
shall be attributed to plasticity or creep in the specimen. This given as P/Anet for tensile specimens and My/I per Test Method
is not considered crack growth and is not defined as the crack E812 for bend specimens,
initiation load, Pi (see Fig. 4, Type B). This behavior only
occurs when the stress at the crack tip attains or exceeds the where:
yield strength of the material. This is not a threshold value. Anet = net cross-sectional area,
8.1.10 The load at the transition from a constant or decreas- M = the applied moment,
ing rate to an increasing rate (concave to convex) is defined as y = the distance from the neutral axis to the stressed
the crack initiation load, Pi (see Fig. 4, Type C). The threshold ligament, and
load, Pth, is the step before initiation of crack growth. I = the cross-sectional moment of inertia.

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9.3 The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) per Test Methods E8 10.2.3 Report the fracture load and any maximum fracture
is given as Pc/Anet. stress or stress intensity parameter that has been calculated
9.4 The threshold stress (σth) is calculated from the same from the rupture load.
mathematical relationship as UTS except that the threshold 10.2.4 Report the threshold load (P th) and any threshold
load (Pth) is used instead of Pc. stress or stress intensity parameter that has been calculated
from the threshold load.
9.5 The threshold stress (σth) is measured in an aqueous
NOTE 3—When testing irregular geometry type specimens, note that the
environment under a cathodic or hydrogen-producing environ- test results are geometric and orientation specific and deviations will occur
ment or in air for electroplated parts. These values are not from one type of sample to another of the same material if identical test
necessarily the same. samples are not used.
9.5.1 A further designation of σth-EHE is used if the test is NOTE 4—Use the loading code of “B” for four-point bending and “T”
for tension.
conducted in a specified environment.
9.5.2 A further designation of σth-IHE is used if the test is 10.2.5 Loading and duration of each increment.
conducted in air. 10.2.6 Method used to determine loading rate.
10.2.7 Environmental conditions.
9.6 Stress intensity parameters per Test Method E399 are
10.3 Test information to be available on request shall
calculated from the load measurements in section 8.1.
include:
9.7 The strain rate in units of in./in./s can be calculated by 10.3.1 Table identifying the loading profile similar to sec-
dividing the slope (see Fig. 5) of the loading rate (∆σ / ∆t) in tion 8.1.2.
units of ksi/second by the elastic modulus in units of ksi. In 10.3.2 Equations used to calculate fracture mechanics prop-
accordance with Practice G129, the loading rate should range erties and estimate stresses on irregularly shaped geometry.
from 10-5 s-1 to 10-8 s-1. 10.3.3 Fixture dimensions pertaining to how irregular test
specimens were loaded and what specific geometry was tested.
10. Report 10.3.4 Use Practice E29 for rounding of test results.
10.1 Test information on materials not covered by a product
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11. Precision and Bias
specification shall be reported in accordance with 10.2 or both11.1 Precision—The precision of the procedure in this test
10.2 and 10.3. method for measuring the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittle-
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be reported shall include the ment in steel is being determined.
following when applicable: 11.2 Bias—There is no known bias in this test method.
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10.2.1 Material and sample identification.
10.2.2 Specimen types can be either 12. Keywords
irregular geometry. Fracture mechanics-type specimens with 12.1 decreasing loading rate; delayed brittle failure; dis-
specified geometry shall be reported as described in Test placement control; fasteners; hydrogen embrittlement thresh-
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Method E399. Irregular geometry type specimens are classified old; hydrogen induced stress cracking; rising step load; slow
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according to their respective standard or specification. strain rate

ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. APPLICATION TO HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT TESTING OF FASTENERS

INTRODUCTION

This annex addresses the specific use of this standard to determine the threshold stress for the onset
of hydrogen embrittlement of fasteners. The test is performed either in air, to measure the effect if
residual hydrogen is in the steel because of the processing (IHE), or in a controlled environment, to
measure the effect of hydrogen introduced into the steel as a result of the external sources of hydrogen
(EHE) as defined in 1.3. Alloy/Coating systems should be specified. The Open Circuit Potential (OCP)
or Corrosion Potential (ECORR) should be measured in a 3.5 % NaCl solution to characterize the
galvanic corrosion behavior of the coating relative to the specific grade of steel. A scribe mark should
be inserted in the coating at the root of a thread to simulate a damaged coating or “holiday” in the
coating. As a baseline, fasteners are tested in bending in air at Test Methods E8 loading rates to
measure the Fast Fracture Strength, FFS(B) to obtain PMAX. To measure the hydrogen embrittlement
susceptibility (EHE), fasteners are tested in a salt-water environment using the step load procedure of
Section 8 to measure Pth, except as modified herein. A minimum of three tests is required.