Multidilatometric methods for measurements of the diffusion and electromigration of hydrogen in metals

A new technique for studying the diffusion and electromigration of hydrogen in metals is presented. In this technique the evolution of the hydrogen concentration profile during the diffusion process is detected by local dilatation measurements (at several positions along the diffusion direction) on the sample by means of a capacitance technique. This multidilatometric method is applied to the study of the diffusion of hydrogen in palladium and the electromigration of hydrogen in vanadium, niobium and tantalum. Representative experimental results are in good agreement with those obtained by using other methods.