That is what I suspect as a strong possibility. I'm hoping a little thicker wire will hold up better. It is interesting to watch the nitinol wire in electrolysis as the hydrogen production seems pretty vigorous down the entire length of the wire.
On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 3:42 PM, Alan Fletcher <a...@well.com> wrote: > > From: "Jack Cole" <jcol...@gmail.com> > > Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 3:46:39 AM > > > Thanks Chuck, > > > > > > It's encouraging to know we've had the same ideas! You may not have > > had the polarity wrong. I've gone through two wires with it so far. > > I've thought maybe I was putting too much power through it, but it > > also may be that the hydrogen loading is very rough on the wire. After > > running ~5 hrs the wire broke and you could touch it, and it would > > disintegrate. I may need to try thicker wire (using .009" currently). > > Could you be seeing "hydrogen embrittlement" --- I'd just finished reading > this article in one of my trade mags : > > Danger: When Hydrogen Embrittlement Strikes > http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1365&doc_id=248433 > >
