Hydrogen absorption during electroplating might result in hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of the substrate
metal. Heat treatment ("baking") is commonly employed "in order to render the normally mobile
hydrogen immobile". The objective of this work was to develop a sensitive analytical procedure using
dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) that would allow identification of improper baking
during quality control. In all non-baked samples of AISI 4340 steel coated with cadmium, an increase in
the hydrogen signal was found at the Cd/steel interface. In baked samples, either a peak was not
observed at the interface, or it was found insignificant based on determination of the ratios between the
hydrogen signals within the coating, interface and substrate. The results were reproduced after 16
months storage in a desiccator. The main effect of baking was found to be effusion of hydrogen from
the interface and the substrate steel into the atmosphere. HE-related delayed failures may thus be
explained in terms of a time-independent reservoir of hydrogen at the coating/substrate interface, rather
than in terms of irreversible damage that occurred within the substrate during electroplating. These
findings contradict some of the statements in textbooks and international standards.
Keywords: Electroplating, baking, hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen trapping, secondary ion mass
spectrometry (SIMS), high-strength steels, cadmium coating, quality control, delayed failure.