Reduced susceptibility to stress-relief cracking in the CGHAZ by modifying grain boundary character

Abstract Stress-relief cracking susceptibility in the coarse grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) of T23 steel is notably reduced after modifying the grain-boundary (GB) character through partial recrystallization along the prior austenite GB (PAGB). The mechanisms are discussed according to the relationship between the PAGBs and recrystallized GBs, and the misorientaion distribution around the PAGBs.