Effect of welding current on properties of activated gas tungsten arc super duplex stainless steel welds

Aditya Kumaresan; Akash Sundar; Ashwin Annamalai; Gautam Ramesh; Sekar Chandaragiri Baskar; Damodaram Ramachandran; Koteswara Rao Sajja Rama

doi:10.1515/mt-2021-2213

Article

Effect of welding current on properties of activated gas tungsten arc super duplex stainless steel welds

Aditya Kumaresan , Akash Sundar , Ashwin Annamalai , Gautam Ramesh , Sekar Chandaragiri Baskar , Damodaram Ramachandran and Koteswara Rao Sajja Rama

Published/Copyright: August 5, 2022

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information

From the journal Materials Testing Volume 64 Issue 8

Abstract

A comparative evaluation of the influence of welding current on Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding and Activated Tungsten Inert Gas (ATIG) welding on the depth of penetration and microstructure properties was performed. Various super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) beads on plate weld joints were studied. Visual observation showed that lower welding current resulted in partial weld penetration in the case of both TIG and ATIG weldments. Weld joints obtained by the ATIG process have a higher depth of penetration and depth/width ratios than weld joints obtained in the conventional TIG process at comparatively lower welding currents. Further, microstructural characterizations were performed using optical microscopy. The weld zone microstructure consists of grain boundary austenite (GBA), widmanstätten austenite (WA) and intragranular austenite (IGA). Ferrite percentage in bulk material and each weldment was measured using ferrite scope. The TIG-welded heat affected zone (HAZ) joints showed higher ferrite content than activated flux TIG-welded HAZ joints for various welding current conditions. Ferrite content measured in the weld-zone, HAZ and base material was within the ranges of the standard values. The TIG weld zone showed higher hardness than that of the ATIG weld zone.

Keywords: activated flux; activated tungsten inert gas welding; depth of penetration; super-duplex stainless steel; welding

Corresponding author: Damodaram Ramachandran, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Tamil Nadu, 603110, India, E-mail: damodaramr@ssn.edu.in

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

References

[1] J. R. Davis, Stainless Steels, ASM Specialty Handbook, Ohio, United States, ASM International, 1994.Search in Google Scholar

[2] J. C. Lippold and D. J. Kotecki, Welding Metallurgy and Weldability of Stainless Steels, New Jersey, Wiley-Interscience, 2005.Search in Google Scholar

[3] I. Mitelea, I. D. Uţu, S. D. Urlan, and O. Karancsi, “Microstructure characterization and corrosion testing of MAG pulsed duplex stainless steel welds,” Mater. Test., vol. 59, nos. 7–8, pp. 642–646, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111054.Search in Google Scholar

[4] K. D. Ramkumar, D. Mishra, B. G. Raj, et al.., “Effect of optimal weld parameters in the microstructure and mechanical properties of autogeneous gas tungsten arc weldments of super-duplex stainless steel UNS S32750,” Mater. Des., vol. 66, pp. 356–365, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.10.084.Search in Google Scholar

[5] A. V. Jebaraj, L. Ajaykumar, C. R. Deepak, and K. V. Aditya, “Weldability, machinability and surfacing of commercial duplex stainless steel AISI2205 for marine applications-a recent review,” J. Adv. Res., vol. 8, pp. 183–199, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2017.01.002.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[6] S. S. M. Tavares, J. M. Pardal, L. M. Lima, I. N. Bastos, A. M. Nascimento, and J. A. de Souza, “Characterization of microstructure, chemical composition, corrosion resistance and toughness of a multipass weld joint of super duplex stainless steel UNSS32750,” Mater. Charact., vol. 58, pp. 610–616, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2006.07.006.Search in Google Scholar

[7] L. Tian, Z. Gao, and Y. Han, “Effect of post-weld heat treatment on microstructure and corrosion properties of multi-layer super duplex stainless steel welds,” Mater. Test., vol. 63, no. 9, pp. 791–796, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2021-0015.Search in Google Scholar

[8] H. Fujii, T. Sato, S. P. Lu, and K. Nogi, “Development of an advanced A-TIG(AA-TIG) welding method by control of Marangoni convection,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, vol. 495, pp. 296–303, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2007.10.116.Search in Google Scholar

[9] H. Y. Huang, “Effects of shielding gas composition and activating flux on GTAW weldments,” Mater. Des., vol. 30, pp. 2404–2409, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2008.10.024.Search in Google Scholar

[10] S. M. Gurevich, V. N. Zamkov, and N. A. Kushnirenko, “Improving the penetration of titanium alloys when they are welded by argon tungsten arc process,” Automat Weld, vol. 18, no. 9, pp. 1–5, 1965.Search in Google Scholar

[11] D. Pandya, A. Badgujar, and N. Ghetiyam, “A novel perception toward welding of stainless steel by activated TIG welding: A review,” Mater. Manuf. Process., vol. 36, pp. 877–903, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1080/10426914.2020.1854467.Search in Google Scholar

[12] S. W. Shyu, H. Y. Huang, K. H. Tseng, and C. P. Chou, “Study of the performance of stainless steel A-TIG welds,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 17, pp. 193–201, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-007-9139-7.Search in Google Scholar

[13] K. H. Tseng and C. Y. Hsu, “Performance of activated TIG process in austenitic stainless steel welds,” J. Mater. Process. Technol., vol. 211, pp. 503–512, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2010.11.003.Search in Google Scholar

[14] K. C. Mills and B. J. Keene, “Factors affecting variable weld penetration,” Int. Mater. Rev., vol. 35, pp. 185–216, 1990, https://doi.org/10.1179/095066090790323966.Search in Google Scholar

[15] C. S. Wu and J. Q. Gao, “Analysis of the heat flux distribution at the anode of a TIG welding arc,” Comput. Mater. Sci., vol. 24, pp. 323–327, 2002, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0256(01)00254-3.Search in Google Scholar

[16] R. S. Vidyarthy and D. K. Dwivedi, “Review-activating flux inert gas welding for enhanced weld penetration,” J. Manuf. Process., vol. 22, pp. 211–228, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2016.03.012.Search in Google Scholar

[17] M. Yousefie, M. Shamanian, and A. Saatchi, “Optimization of the pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (PCGTAW) parameters for corrosion resistance of super duplex stainless steel (UNS S32760) welds using the Taguchi method,” J. Alloys Compd., vol. 509, pp. 782–788, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2010.09.087.Search in Google Scholar

[18] D. Arun, D. Ramkumar, and R. Vimala, “Multi-pass arc welding techniques of 12 mm thick super-duplex stainless steel,” J. Mater. Process. Technol., vol. 271, pp. 126–143, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2019.03.031.Search in Google Scholar

[19] M. Sönmez and P. Topuz, “Effect of TIG welding parameters in joining grade 2 pure titanium,” Mater. Test., vol. 63, no. 5, pp. 420–425, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2020-007.Search in Google Scholar

[20] Q. M. Li, X. Wang, Z. Zou, and W. U. Jun, “Effect of activating flux on arc shape and arc voltage in tungsten inert gas welding,” Trans. Nonferrous Metals Soc. China, vol. 17, pp. 486–490, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(07)60120-4.Search in Google Scholar

[21] N. N. Korra, M. Vasudevan, and K. Balasubramanian, “Optimization of A-TIG welding of duplex stainless steel alloy 2205 based on response surface methodology and experimental validation,” J. Mater. Des. Appl. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. L, vol. 230, pp. 837–846, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464420715585878.Search in Google Scholar

[22] K. H. Tseng and C. Y. Hsu, “Performance of activated TIG process in austenitic stainless steel welds,” J. Mater. Process. Technol., vol. 211, pp. 503–512, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2010.11.003.Search in Google Scholar

[23] M. Tanaka, T. Shimizu, T. Terasaki, M. Ushio, F. Koshiishi, and C.-L. Yang, “Effects of activating flux on arc phenomena in gas tungsten arc welding,” Sci. Technol. Weld. Join., vol. 5, pp. 397–402, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1179/136217100101538461.Search in Google Scholar

[24] Y. Cai, Z. Luo, Z. Huang, and Y. Zeng, “Influence of oxides on microstructures and mechanical properties of high-strength steel weld joint,” High Temp. Mater. Process., vol. 35, no. 10, pp. 1047–1053, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1515/htmp-2015-0151.Search in Google Scholar

[25] L. Li, B. Li, L. Liu, and Y. Motoyama, “Numerical modeling of fluid flow, heat transfer and arc–melt interaction in tungsten inert gas welding,” High Temp. Mater. Process., vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 427–439, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1515/htmp-2016-0120.Search in Google Scholar

[26] T. S. Chern, K. H. Tseng, and H. L. Tsai, “Study of the characteristics of duplex stainless steel activated tungsten inert gas welds,” Mater. Des., vol. 32, pp. 255–263, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2010.05.056.Search in Google Scholar

[27] I. Mitelea, I. D. Uţu, O. Karancsi, S. D. Urlan, and C. M. Crăciunescu, “Investigation of the microstructure of dissimilar welds in duplex stainless steel and low alloyed steel,” Mater. Test., vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 120–124, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111292.Search in Google Scholar

[28] A. Eghlimi, M. Shamanian, and K. Raeissi, “Effect of current type on microstructure and corrosion resistance of super duplex stainless steel claddings produced by the gas tungsten arc welding process,” Surf. Coat. Technol., vol. 244, pp. 45–51, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.01.047.Search in Google Scholar

[29] I. Kirik, Z. Balalan, A. Imak, and M. Yaz, “Properties of different TIG coatings of Stellite on the Hardox 450 and St 52 steel,” Mater. Test., vol. 62, no. 11, pp. 1089–1093, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111590.Search in Google Scholar

[30] M. Rahmani, A. Eghlimi, and M. Shamanian, “Evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties in dissimilar austenitic/super duplex stainless steel joint,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 23, pp. 3745–3753, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-014-1136-z.Search in Google Scholar

[31] R. Neissi, M. Shamanian, and M. Hajihashemi, “The effect of constant and pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding on joint properties of 2205 duplex stainless steel to 316l austenitic stainless steel,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 25, pp. 2017–2028, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2033-4.Search in Google Scholar

[32] B. Alwin, A. K. Lakshminarayanan, and M. Vasudevan, “Assessment of stress corrosion cracking resistance of activated tungsten inert gas-welded duplex stainless steel joints,” J. Mater. Eng. Perform., vol. 26, pp. 5825–5836, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-3057-0.Search in Google Scholar

[33] API, API TECHNICAL REPORT 938-C: Use of Duplex Stainless Steels in the Oil Refining Industry, API Publication, 2011, [Online]. Available at: https://www.api.org/∼/media/files/publications/whats%20new/938-c_e3%20pa.Search in Google Scholar

[34] Standard, NACE, General Principles for Selection Crack Resistance Materials – Part 1, Standard NACE, ANSI/NACE MR0175/ISO 15156: Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries – Materials for Use in H2S-Containing Environments in Oil and Gas Production, NACE: Houston, Texas, 2015, [Online]. Available at: http://fouladonline.ir/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NACE-MR-0175-ISO-15156-2015.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2022-08-05

Published in Print: 2022-08-26

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2021-2213

Keywords for this article

activated flux; activated tungsten inert gas welding; depth of penetration; super-duplex stainless steel; welding