In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to join Hastelloy C-276 nickel-based superalloy and AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel using ERNiCrMo-4 filler. The joints were fabricated by continuous and pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding processes. Experimental studies to ascertain the structure-property co-relationship with or without pulsed current mode were carried out using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. Further, the energy-dispersive spectroscope was used to evaluate the extent of microsegregation. The microstructure of fusion zone was obtained as finer cellular dendritic structure for pulsed current mode, whereas columnar structure was formed with small amount of cellular structure for continuous current mode. The scanning electron microscope examination witnessed the existence of migrated grain boundaries at the weld interfaces. Moreover, the presence of secondary phases such as P and μ was observed in continuous current weld joints, whereas they were absent in pulsed current weld joints, which needs to be further characterized. Moreover, pulsed current joints resulted in narrower weld bead, refined morphology, reduced elemental segregation and improved strength of the welded joints. The outcomes of the present investigation would help in obtaining good quality dissimilar joints for industrial applications and AISI 321 ASS being cheaper consequently led to cost-effective design also.

Effect of Continuous and Pulsed Current Gas Tungsten Arc Welding on Dissimilar Weldments Between Hastelloy C-276/AISI 321 Austenitic Stainless Steel

Maraging steel 250 grade plates of 10 mm thickness were welded in single pass using a laser-arc hybrid welding (LHW) setup comprising 3.5 kW CO2 laser and synergic pulse metal inert gas (MIG) welding power source at a welding speed of 1 m/min. The influence of single-pass welding on the bead characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical properties was investigated. The size and volume fraction of reverted austenite was effectively reduced in the fusion zone. Moreover, the width of the heat-affected zones (HAZ) was reduced and the microhardness results did not show significant softening in the HAZ after post weld aging. Tensile testing of the welds in transverse direction showed 97.3% weld efficiency. The fusion zone exhibited KIc fracture toughness of 77.4 MPa√m which was affected by the distribution pattern of reverted austenite. The study vividly brings out the process advantages of LHW for accomplishing thick section welds of maraging steel in single pass with narrow groove and lesser filler wire con...

Single Pass Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding of Maraging Steel Thick Sections

A high power solid Nd-YAG laser, operating in continuous mode, was used to re-melt the surface of a maraging steel, 14 Ni (200 grade), in different heat treatment conditions. Processing parameters were optimized for the employment of this technique as a repairing procedure of damaged surfaces to increase the useful life of tools made in maraging steels. Different zones can be found in laser-heated material. In addition, the absence of austenite reversion, consistent with the low nickel content of this steel, was found with the exception of a few very small pools of austenite found in a narrow layer in the heat-affected zone of samples corresponding to one of the studied heat treatment conditions of steel. Laser surface melting (LSM) combined with aging heat treatment causes a significant rise in the hardness (from 325 to more than 520 HV0.1) and in the wear resistance of the surface layer (with a decrease in the volume of lost material from 0.52 mm3 in the steel in the laser surface melted condition to 0.28 mm3 in the steel in laser surface melted and finally peak age hardening condition).

Laser surface melting: A suitable technique to repair damaged surfaces made in 14 Ni (200 grade) maraging steel

In the heat-treated condition, 18% Ni maraging steels have a microstructure of aged martensite and essentially no austenite. However, austenite can form if the material is overaged. This has been termed as austenite reversion, a subject which has received much attention, because it importantly influences properties and performance of the steel. Reversion of austenite in fusion zones of weld joints in these steels has also been widely studied. Because of microsegregation, austenite reversion in the fusion zone is accelerated. Reverted austenite in the fusion zone strongly influences the performance of the weld joints. The present review critically analyses the published work on austenite reversion and its effects on properties and performance, covering both base metal and weld joints.

Austenite reversion in 18% Ni maraging steel and its weldments

Role of pulsed current on metallurgical and mechanical properties of dissimilar metal gas tungsten arc welding of maraging steel to low alloy steel

This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of microstructures obtained by multipass gas tungsten arc welding in maraging steel grade 250. Metallography and microhardness measurements were carried out on sheet and welded joints in as-welded and post-weld aged conditions. It was found that there was a significant amount of reverted austenite formed on cell boundaries of weld metal after aging at 758-823 K for 3-5 h, and was stable at room temperature. Aging at higher temperatures led to an increase in the continuous network of patchy austenite along the cell boundaries. The reason for the above, in our opinion, is the concentrational heterogeneity which characterizes the microstructure of maraging steel welds. No reverted austenite was observed in as-welded specimens. Solution annealing at 1093 K for 1 h did not completely eliminate the chemical heterogeneity associated with weld structures. However, homogenizing at 1373 K produced homogenous structure that on subsequent aging produces austenite-free lath martensitic structure.

Bilal Ahmed

Papers

Investigation into Microstructures of Maraging Steel 250 Weldments and Effect of Post-Weld Heat Treatments