Under the term Environmental
Induced Cracking (EIC) a series of subcritical progression cracking
processes are involved which result from the synergistic action of a mechanical
stress combined with corrosion degradation under service conditions. Such
phenomena are designated by the generic term Stress-Corrosion Cracking (SCC).
For many authors, Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) is considered a special case of Stress-Corrosion
Cracking, in which the progression of the crack is due to the embrittlement effect
caused by the generation and absorption of hydrogen. From IK4-AZTERLAN it is
preferred the interpretation of such failures as a particular case of hydrogen embrittlement,
wherein the hydrogen source do not come from the manufacturing process, but is
generated by a corrosive process in service conditions.