The phenomenon [1] is accompanied with an unusual external effect. In a complete loss of the massive shape stability, metal crystals flow under internal forces and deforms like a viscous liquid.

We investigated characteristics of metals during their heat cycling in a hydrogen atmosphere. The outcomes have been predictable in experiments with nickel, cobalt and tungsten. With iron, surprising transformations began. During this process, an iron cylinder transformed into a tube, a ball into a “hedgehog” and a cube into a branched dendrite.

This spontaneous flow of the metal has, however, appeared controllable by changing the pressure of hydrogen and by certain temperature variations.

It appeared that hydrogen, upon penetrating the metal, alters the mechanism of rearrangement of the metal crystal lattice. Highly gas-saturated layers form between growing and disappearing crystals. These active zones are responsible for stress growth and the induction of intensive plastic deformation of the metal without any external force applied.

This discovery can be of great value for a range of industries. By varying the pressure of hydrogen and by producing required temperature differences, we can control the flow of the metal. This effect may provide the basis for entirely new methods of metal deformation, high-velocity diffusion welding, connecting metals with ceramics and detection of inner flaws in articles. Some laboratories are already making metallic capillaries and thread-like monocrystals without affecting the metal mechanically, but by altering the value and orientation of the temperature gradient.