ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

EMBRITTLEMENT AVOIDANCE WSS-M99A3-A

1. SCOPE

This specification outlines the conditions that enhance the risk of hydrogen embrittlement and stress
corrosion cracking of steel components and fasteners and identifies requirements intended to minimize
that risk.

2. APPLICATION

The requirements established by this specification apply to both heat-treated and cold worked steel
components.

Hardness values in this specification are in the Vickers scale. All other readings are for reference only.
The specified hardness refers to the hardness on the part drawing or product standard and not the actual
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part hardness.

2.1 HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT

The risk of hydrogen embrittlement exists for parts:

- with high tensile strength or hardness, including surface hardening,

- which have, or may absorb diffusible hydrogen, and
- are under tensile stress.

Hydrogen induced delayed cracking or embrittlement can cause brittle fracture under stress and
most often occurs as a result of hydrogen absorption during manufacturing processes such as acid
cleaning, electroplating, phosphate coating, and heat treatment. Hydrogen absorbed during these
manufacturing processes can be relieved by baking. Hydrogen absorption can also occur from
exposure to corrosive environments where the reduction reaction may produce atomic hydrogen.

The susceptibility to embrittlement increases with increasing stress and increasing material
strength, particularly for martensitic microstructures. Therefore, attention to the processes used for
cleaning, finishing, and heat treatment, as well as the review of the application environment for
hardened and cold worked steel components, are crucial in reducing the risk of embrittlement.

2.2 STRESS CORROSION CRACKING

Hardened steels are susceptible to brittle fracture when exposed to a corrosive environment under
a tensile stress. This failure mode is called stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The higher the yield
strength, the more susceptible the material is to SCC. Sensitivity varies with steel alloy, yield
strength, corrosive environment and the applied tensile stress and residual manufacturing stress.

Date Action Revisions

2012 03 20 Revised Added details for components A. Wedepohl, NA

2008 02 06 Revised Updated Format (See section 4.0 for details) L. Sinclair, NA

1987 09 18 Released SM/ER 1209TC J.P.C. Lines EAO

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

WSS-M99A3-A

3. REQUIREMENTS

3.0 STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTION MATERIALS

Material suppliers and part producers must conform to the Company's Standard Requirements For
Production Materials (WSS-M99P1111-A).

3.1 CONTROL PLAN

Fasteners and components affected by this specification shall have a control plan that includes the
requirements of this specification. The control plan shall include verification test(s) to demonstrate
the effectiveness of the de-embrittlement procedures after electroplating. Verification procedures
are not required for acid cleaning, phosphating, or mechanical plating. In cases where the
electroplating process does not normally produce embrittlement, it may be necessary to establish
verification tests based on proven methodology.

3.2 RESTRICTIONS ON PART USAGE

Due to high tensile stresses involved in fastened joints, all fasteners or threaded components with a
maximum specified core or surface hardness greater than 390 HV (39 HRC) shall not be used in

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critical applications where there is a potential for corrosion. Critical applications are determined as
those with an FMEA severity rating of 9 or 10 for fractures.

Fasteners and components used in non-critical applications where the maximum specified core or
surface hardness is greater than 390 HV (39 HRC) shall not be used where exposed to the potential
for corrosion without an appropriate FMEA. The FMEA shall include consideration of cracking
mechanisms, such as hydrogen embrittlement, stress corrosion cracking, etc. as possible causes of
fracture, as well as the need for protective finishes.

Carburization of through hardened components is not permitted unless specified on the

Engineering Drawing. Unintentional carburization sometimes occurs when hardened components
are subjected to a carbon rich atmosphere. In these cases, the surface hardness shall not be more
than 30 HV above the measured core hardness. For property class 10.9 fasteners, any increase in
hardness at the surface that indicates that the surface hardness exceeds 390 HV (39 HRC) is not
acceptable.

3.3 CLEANING PRIOR TO HEAT TREATMENT

All fasteners and components with a maximum specified core or surface hardness greater than 353
HV (35 HRC) must be cleaned prior to heat treatment to remove phosphorus-containing products or
any other detrimental contaminants from the surface. The formation of a white, phosphorus
enriched layer caused by penetration of phosphorus during the hardening process is not
permissible.

3.4 HEAT TREATMENT

All heat treatment operations, except de-embrittlement via baking (Section 3.6 De-Embrittlement),
shall be completed prior to plating or phosphate coating.

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

WSS-M99A3-A

3.5 CLEANING AFTER HEAT TREATMENT OR COLD WORKING

Acid cleaning of fasteners and components which have been heat treated to a specified core or
surface hardness greater than 353 HV (35 HRC) or have been highly stressed due to cold working
enhances the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement, and shall be minimized. If such fasteners
and components are to be acid cleaned, an inhibited acid shall be used and a procedure shall be
established that limits exposure to the acid bath to a maximum of 10 minutes. Fasteners and
components that are acid cleaned and subsequently phosphate coated, mechanically plated, or
electroplated, shall follow the requirements in section 3.6 De-Embrittlement Table 1 as applicable.
All other fasteners and components that are acid cleaned but not subsequently coated or plated,
shall not be used for 48 hours, or these parts shall be baked for a minimum of 1 hour at 110 °C
minimum following cleaning.

Note: Inhibited acids have inhibitors added to the acid to reduce the corrosive attack on the steel
and absorption of hydrogen.

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3.6 DE-EMBRITTLEMENT

All references to temperature relate to part core temperature and not oven air temperature.
Statistical data of variations in temperature at the center of the oven and oven temperature shall be
established to develop the oven profile. The temperature of parts in a batch type oven shall be
monitored with a thermocouple placed in the middle of the load. For continuous bake ovens a
temperature trace through the oven must be run with a calibrated thermocouple in the lowest
temperature position according to the frequency listed in the control plan.

The part temperature should be reached within 1 hour after commencement of heating.

Longer times at heat than those given may be necessary if verification testing detailed in the
Control Plan indicates a failure risk.

Table 1: Hydrogen Relief Table

Process Specified Hardness Hydrogen Relief

Acid Cleaning
(for items not subsequently
phosphated, mechanically
plated, or electroplated))
Phosphate Coating
Mechanical Plating
(Surface and/or Core)
> 353 HV (35 HRC) Within four hours after acid
cleaning, bake parts at 110˚C
minimum for 1 hour minimum, or
the parts shall not be used for 48
hours after acid cleaning.
Within four hours after coating,
bake parts at 110˚C minimum for 1
> 353 HV (35 HRC)
hour minimum or the parts shall not
be used for 48 hours after coating.
Within four hours after mechanical
plating, bake parts at 110˚C
> 353 HV (35 HRC) minimum for 1 hour minimum, or
the parts shall not be used for 48
hours after mechanical plating.

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

WSS-M99A3-A

Table 1: Hydrogen Relief Table (cont)

FASTENERS OR THREADED
COMPONENTS SHALL NOT BE
ELECTROPLATED

Electroplating
Electroplating for parts
tempered or stress relieved
below 230˚C or for tin or tin
alloy platings to avoid liquid
metal embrittlement.
Non-Threaded Components:
> 390 HV (39 HRC)
Within 1 hour after electroplating
and before any supplementary
chemical treatments, bake parts at
200˚C minimum for 8 hours
minimum.
Within 1 hour after electroplating
and before any supplementary
> 353 HV (35 HRC) chemical treatments, bake parts at
200˚C minimum for 4 hours
minimum.
Within 1 hour after electroplating,
bake parts at 140˚C minimum for 8
> 353 HV (35 HRC) hour minimum.

3.7 EXCEPTIONS

Exceptions to the de-embrittlement requirements may be made due to factors such as alloy
composition, coating thickness, coating type, design, or part size. Consideration should be given to
the application, tensile stress, and manufacturing processes. Investigations into the amount of
hydrogen absorption and effectiveness of the de-embrittlement relief for specific parts may result in
different recommended times and temperatures versus the ones listed above. In some cases de-
embrittlement may not be necessary.

Exceptions shall be authorized by the responsible Functional Chief Engineer and communicated to
the appropriate Materials/Fastener Engineering Activity.

For fasteners, exception approval shall be documented on Form e1217, Request for Part
Number or Drawing Change per FAP03-117. Exceptions agreed to for some Standard
Fasteners are shown in the General Requirements section of Ford Worldwide Fastener
Standard WX-100.

For components, exception approval shall be documented in SDS requirement MA-0114, --``,```,```,```,``,,`,,`,,`,``-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Component and Fastener Hardness Restriction.

4. GENERAL INFORMATION

The information given below is provided for clarification and assistance in meeting the requirements of
this specification. Contact gmfs@ford.com for questions concerning Engineering Material Specifications.

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 ENGINEERING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

WSS-M99A3-A

References:
ASTM B850 Post-Coating Treatments of Steel for Reducing the Risk of Hydrogen
Embrittlement.

ISO 9588 Metallic and Other Inorganic Coatings - Post Coating Treatments of Iron or Steel
to Reduce the Risk of Hydrogen Embrittlement.

SAE/USCAR-5 Avoidance of Hydrogen Embrittlement of Steel

5. SUMMARY OF CHANGES

2012 03 20 Revised to include more distinction between parts and fasteners.

Added location of documented exceptions for components.

2008 02 06 Completely revised, reformatted and renumbered the document.

Application section specifically defines hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion
cracking.
The brittleness statement was moved to the control plan paragraph.
Carburization section was added into the restriction on part usage section.
The plating/coating method statement was moved to the hydrogen relief table.
The de-embrittlement section was aligned with SAE/USCAR 5 and the distinction
between core and surface hardness was removed. The temperature and times were
aligned with SAE/USCAR 5 and placed in tabular form.
The fastener exception sheet was updated from FAF-1217 to FAF03-117-01.

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