In the present study, the effect of electro zinc plating on environmental hydrogen embrittlement of 7075–T6 aluminum alloys was investigated by using a slow
strain rate testing device which can detect quantitively the amount of hydrogen generated during deformation and fracture. The testing device can also detect traces of
hydrogen gas as low as 5 ppb by using a semiconductor gas sensor at ambient pressure. It was revealed that the environmental hydrogen embrittlement of 7075–T6
aluminum alloys was highly suppressed by zinc–based electroplating, while not fully by anodization. The suppression of the hydrogen embrittlement by zinc plating was
caused by the protection of original aluminum surfaces during plastic deformation.