title: Evidence of hydrogen embrittlement of tungsten carbide.
abstract: Tungsten carbide vessels containing materials at high temperature and high pressure are used in many laboratories. We note that any oils at medium to high temperature which can break down and liberate hydrogen cause rapid failure of the pressure vessel, whereas perfluorated kerosenes used as lubricants inside a pressure vessel give sharply increased life of the vessel.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kennedy