Official Answer
Answer
High-carbon steels like SAE 1070 are extremely susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement during acid pickling or electroplating processes. Atomic hydrogen migrates into the grain boundaries, causing brittle fracture at stresses well below the yield point. For wave springs, which have high surface-area-to-volume ratios and are under constant tension at work height, this is fatal. To mitigate this, springs must be baked within 1-4 hours after plating at $190-220^\circ C$ for at least 8 to 24 hours to drive out the hydrogen. Failure to do so in automotive braking systems can lead to sudden, catastrophic component failure.
