Official Answer
Answer
Hydrogen embrittlement occurs when atomic hydrogen is absorbed into the high-strength carbon steel during the pickling or electroplating process. Under tensile stress, these hydrogen atoms migrate to grain boundaries and crack tips, causing brittle fracture at loads far below the yield strength. To mitigate this, springs must be 'baked' within 1-4 hours after plating at approximately $375^{\circ}F$ ($190^{\circ}C$) for 4 to 24 hours to drive out the hydrogen. For critical applications, mechanical galvanizing or the use of stainless steel is often preferred to eliminate this risk entirely.
