The permeation of H through Fe and steel specimens was measured as a function of compressive and tensile stress. The technique used involved the deposition of H from aqueous solution onto one side of a membrane, and its electrochemical ionization on the other side (protected from corrosion by a thin Pd coating). The membrane was designed so that the application of a compressive stress imposed a uniform stress on the area within which permeation was measured. It was found that a tensile stress increased the permeability, while a compressive stress decreased it. The diffusion coefficient was unaffected by the applied elastic stress.

The Effect of Stress on the Chemical Potential of Hydrogen in Iron and Steel. J.O.Bockris, W.Beck, M.A.Genshaw, P.K.Subramanyan, F.S.Williams: Acta Metallurica, 1971, 19[11], 1209-18