Chain Failure Glossary
Failure mode
Hydrogen Embrittlement
Also known as HE, hydrogen assisted cracking
What hydrogen embrittlement is
Hydrogen embrittlement affects high hardness, high strength steels. Hydrogen atoms introduced during acid pickling, electroplating or corrosion enter the steel, collect at stress concentrations and cause delayed brittle fracture, often days after fitting and at loads well below normal.
Common causes
- Acid pickling or electroplating without a post plating baking cycle
- Corrosion acting as a source of hydrogen in service
- High hardness components where the steel is most susceptible
- Sustained tensile stress from fitting or preload while hydrogen is present
Warning signs
- Brittle plate fractures with no measurable elongation or necking
- Failures appearing within days of a plated batch being fitted
- Multiple failures across a batch rather than one isolated break
- Cracks that initiate at pin holes or plate edges
Prevention and correction
- Buy plated chain only from suppliers who bake de-embrittle after plating
- Specify mechanically plated or zinc flake coatings for high strength parts
- Avoid field repair of high strength chain by electroplating
- Use lower strength grades where cracking risk outweighs the strength gain
Fix it with the right product
Ask for material certificationNeed a second opinion?
Send us the chain, the running hours and a photo. Our engineers will confirm the failure mode and quote the right replacement.
All chain failure modes
Chain ElongationFatigue FailureSide Plate CrackingPin and Bush WearRoller Wear and SpallingAbrasive WearAdhesive WearCorrosionStress Corrosion CrackingHydrogen EmbrittlementGallingSurface PittingTensile OverloadShock LoadingImpact FractureLubrication StarvationTight Links and KinkingMisalignmentChordal ActionSprocket Tooth Wear
Same & Next-Day Delivery Areas
Roller chain supply across South Yorkshire & the North
Dispatched from our Rotherham depot — order by 1pm for next-working-day delivery, or collect same-day within our 30-mile radius.
RotherhamDepot location
Sheffield9 mi · ~25 min
Barnsley6 mi · ~15 min
Doncaster16 mi · ~30 min
Mexborough3 mi · ~8 min
Maltby5 mi · ~12 min
Wath-upon-Dearne4 mi · ~10 min
Wakefield20 mi · ~35 min
Leeds25 mi · ~45 min
Huddersfield30 mi · ~50 min
Scunthorpe22 mi · ~35 min
Mansfield28 mi · ~45 min
Chesterfield18 mi · ~30 min
Worksop14 mi · ~25 min