Abstract
In this work, medium-Mn steel was friction stir welded and then intercritically annealed. Hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior in the nugget zone (NZ) were investigated. The as-welded NZ exhibited the highest HE index (HEI) of 79.2%, and hydrogen‑induced cracks propagated along the grain boundary, probably depending on grain boundary decohesion caused by H segregation. However, this condition was improved by post-welding annealing since fine lath reversed austenite, acting as a strong hydrogen trap, was introduced into the ferritic matrix, inhibiting the segregation of H to grain boundaries. Ultimately, the lowest HEI of 10.7% was obtained in the as-annealed NZ.
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