Welding Metallurgy of

For the purpose of obtaining the appropriate heat input in the simulated weld CGHAZ of the hot-rolled V–N microalloyed high strength S-lean steel, the microstructural evolution, hardness, and toughness subjected to four different heat inputs were investigated. The results indicate that the hardness decreases with increase in the heat input, while the toughness first increases and then decreases. Moderate heat input is optimum, and the microstructure is fine polygonal ferrite, granular bainite, and acicular ferrite with dispersive nano-scale V(C,N) precipitates. The hardness is well-matched with that of the base metal. Moreover, the occurrence of energy dissipating micromechanisms (ductile dimples, tear ridges) contributes to the maximum total impact energy. The detrimental effect of the free N atoms on the toughness can be partly remedied by optimizing the microstructural type, fraction, morphologies, and crystallographic characteristics. The potency of V(C,N) precipitates on intragranular ferrite nucleation without MnS assistance under different heat inputs was discussed.

Effect of welding heat input on microstructures and toughness in simulated CGHAZ of V-N high strength steel

Effect of grain size on the resistance to hydrogen embrittlement of API 2W Grade 60 steels using in situ slow-strain-rate testing

This study was concerned with effects of acicular ferrite on Charpy impact properties in heat affected zones (HAZs) of two API X80 linepipe steels containing oxides. In the one steel, Mg and O 2 were additionally added to form a larger amount of oxides than the other steel, which was a conventional X80 steel containing a considerable amount of Al and Ti. Various HAZ microstructures were obtained by conducting HAZ simulation tests under different heat inputs of 35 kJ cm −1 and 60 kJ cm −1 . Oxides present in the API X80 linepipe steels were complex oxides whose average size was 1–2 μm, and the number of oxides increased with increasing amount of Mg and O 2 . The volume fraction of acicular ferrite present in the steel HAZs increased with increasing number of oxides, and decreased with increasing heat input. When the volume fraction of acicular in the HAZ was higher than 20%, Charpy impact energy at −20 °C was higher than 100 J as the ductile fracture mode was dominant. Particularly in the steel HAZs having a larger amount of oxides, Charpy impact properties were excellent because oxides worked as nucleation sites of acicular ferrite during welding. Charpy impact properties of the HAZs could be well correlated with the volume fraction of acicular ferrite and number of oxides under different heat input conditions.

Effects of acicular ferrite on charpy impact properties in heat affected zones of oxide-containing API X80 linepipe steels

The effect of combinations of several deoxidizers, i.e., Mg-Al, Mg-Ti, Al-Ti, and Ce-Al, on the solidification structure of Fe-2 mass pct Ni-1 mass pct Mn-1 mass pct Mo alloy melt was investigated using a melt sampling and quenching method. Using this method, we evaluated the catalytic potency of several complex inclusion particles by taking the inclusion evolution process into account. Fine equiaxed crystals were obtained in the Mg-Ti-deoxidized steel wherein the MgO(MgAl2O4)-TiN complex compounds formed. However, the longer the holding time at high temperatures, the larger the fraction of Ti2O3, and very fine TiN formed because of microsegregation during solidification, resulting in poor equiaxed crystals. When the steel was deoxidized with Mg-Al, the initial structure was dominantly columnar. However, the longer the holding time, the larger the fraction of MgAl2O4 spinel, resulting in the formation of fine equiaxed crystals. Ce-Al complex deoxidation provided a relatively small portion of equiaxed crystals, whereas Ti-Al deoxidation produced the fewest equiaxed crystals because of the formation of alumina. The effectiveness of each inoculant particle for the crystallization of the primary δ-iron was explained well by the lattice disregistry concept.

Effect of Complex Inclusion Particles on the Solidification Structure of Fe-Ni-Mn-Mo Alloy

Submerged arc welding was performed using metal-cored wires and fluxes with different compositions. The effects of wire/flux combination on the chemical composition, tensile strength, and impact toughness of the weld metal were investigated and interpreted in terms of element transfer between the slag and the weld metal, i.e., Δ quantity. Both carbon and manganese show negative Δ quantity in most combinations, indicating the transfer of the elements from the weld metal to the slag during welding. The amount of transfer, however, is different depending on the flux composition. More basic fluxes yield less negative Δ C and Δ Mn through the reduction of oxygen content in the weld metal and presumably higher Mn activity in the slag, respectively. The transfer of silicon, however, is influenced by Al2O3, TiO2 and ZrO2 contents in the flux. Δ Si becomes less negative and reaches a positive value of 0.044 as the oxides contents increase. This is because Al, Ti, and Zr could replace Si in the SiO2 network, leaving more Si free to transfer from the slag to the weld metal. Accordingly, the Pcm index of weld metals calculated from chemical compositions varies from 0.153 to 0.196 depending on the wire/flux combination, and it almost has a linear relationship with the tensile strength of the weld metal.

Effects of flux composition on the element transfer and mechanical properties of weld metal in submerged arc welding

An increase of nitrogen content in a 0.02 wt% Ti-containing carbon-manganese steel resulted in a low coarsening rate of TiN particles in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), which led to an accelerated ferrite transformation instead of ferrite side plates during weld cooling cycle. The mixed microstructure of ferrite side plate, acicular ferrite and grain boundary polygonal ferrite in the simulated HAZ produced higher toughness. However, the increase of nitrogen content gradually increased the free nitrogen content in the HAZ and deteriorated HAZ toughness. Impact energy of the simulated HAZ (with Δt8/5 ∼60 s) at –20 °C deteriorated by about 97 J per 0.001 wt% free nitrogen, in the free nitrogen range from 0.0009 wt% to 0.0034 wt%, even though the HAZ has the tough mixed microstructure. Cooling time after welding influenced the HAZ microstructure and toughness as well, and maximum toughness was obtained when cooling produced the tough mixed microstructure. Therefore, for a high HAZ toughness, both nitrogen content and cooling time should be controlled to obtain the tough mixed microstructure and to keep the free nitrogen content low. The optimal nitrogen content and cooling time from 800 °C to 500 °C were 0.006 wt% and between 60 s and 100 s, respectively, in this experiment.

Effects of nitrogen content and weld cooling time on the simulated heat-affected zone toughness in a Ti-containing steel

Various fluorides, CaF2, Na3AlF6, K2SiF6, MnF3, and MgF2, were added to rutile-type flux cored wires at concentrations of 1.8–2.3% and their effects on hydrogen reduction in weld metals were studied. All the fluorides reduced the hydrogen content but there were differences in the levels of reduction among the wires; CaF2 showed the greatest reduction and MnF3 showed the least. The hydrogen content in the weld metals was not influenced by the fluorine formed in the arc but by the slag basicity due to the small amount of fluorides added. The weld metal with higher slag basicities had a lower hydrogen content. The effects of fluorides on the arc stability, weld metal hardness, and microstructure were also examined. Because of the higher ionization potential of Mn, the wire containing MnF3 had the most unstable arc during welding. The wire containing MnF3 also produced a lower weld metal hardness than the other wires owing to its lower weld metal hardenability due to the greater oxidation loss of the C, Si, and Mn elements during welding.

Comparison of the effects of fluorides in rutile-type flux cored wire

In this study, reaction-bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) was fabricated using static nitriding system. This technique may be advantageous in commercialization. Reactive nitrogen gas was supplied as a static state using computer-controlled gas delivery system instead of a dynamic flowing state. Nitridation rates obtained at the early stage of reaction rate were proportional to the reactive gas pressures. The sequence of the nitridation reactions was as follows: (1) outside, (2) inside and (3) intermediate region of the specimen. The results were obtained from the coloration of the cross-sectioned specimens that had various nitridation rates.

Microstructure of reaction-bonded silicon nitride fabricated under static nitrogen pressure

Solidification cracking susceptibilities of two types of superaustenitic stainless steel, 254SMO and SR50A, were evaluated by transverse Varestraint tests. The susceptibilities were compared with those of conventional austenitic stainless steel 316L, and factors influencing the difference of susceptibility were discussed. The comparison showed that 254SMO and SR50A are more sensitive to solidification cracking than 316L. In the transverse Varestraint tests, both total and maximum crack lengths are longer in the superaustenitic stainless steel. Because of the longer maximum crack length, the superaustenitic stainless steel also has a wider brittleness temperature range of cracking than 316L: about 178 °C for the superaustenitic stainless steel and 43 °C for 316L. It is believed that straight subgrain boundaries owing to the cellular dendritic solidification and segregations of sulfur and phosphorus in the subgrain boundaries of superaustenitic stainless steel make it more sensitive to solidification cracking. In addition to the solidification cracking, reheat cracking is also observed within the previous weld bead in the superaustenitic stainless steel because of fully austenitic solidification with significant segregations. This suggests that caution should be given to the occurrence of reheat cracking when superaustenitic stainless steel is multi pass welded.

Kook-soo Bang

Papers

Effects of flux composition on the element transfer and mechanical properties of weld metal in submerged arc welding

Effects of nitrogen content and weld cooling time on the simulated heat-affected zone toughness in a Ti-containing steel

Comparison of the effects of fluorides in rutile-type flux cored wire

Microstructure of reaction-bonded silicon nitride fabricated under static nitrogen pressure

Evaluation of weld metal hot cracking susceptibility in superaustenitic stainless steel