Hydrogen embrittlement in a Fe-Mn-C ternary twinning-induced plasticity steel

The influence of hydrogen entry on ductility was evaluated in a ternary twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel with a composition of Fe-18Mn-0.6C in wt.% using tensile tests. The samples with a thickness of 1.2 mm were charged with hydrogen galvanostatically during the tensile tests. Significant hydrogen content was introduced by the hydrogen-charging. The total elongation was significantly deteriorated from approx. 60% to 30% by the hydrogen-charging. A clear intergranular fracture surface was observed in a vicinity of the sample surface in the hydrogen-charged samples. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.