• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 1998

To predict and evaluate metallurgical and mechanical behavior of th welds, it is essential to understand solidification behavior and microstructural evolution experienced in the welds, neither of which follows the equilibrium phase diagram because of rapid heating and cooling conditions. Metallurgical phenomena in austenitic stainless steel fusion welds, types 304, 309S, 316L, 321 and 304N, were investigated in this study. Autogenous GTA welding was performed on weld coupons, and primary solidification mode and phase distribution were investigated from the welds. Varestraint test was employed to evaluate solidification cracking susceptibilities of the alloys. GTA weld fusion zones in type 304, 321 and 304N stainless steels experienced primary ferrite solidification while those in type 309S primary austenite solidification. Type 316L exhibited a mixed type of primary ferrite and primary austenite solidification. The primary solidification mode strongly depended on $Cr_{eq}/Ni_{eq}$ ratio. In terms of solidification cracking susceptibility, type 309S that solidified as primary austenite exhibited high cracking susceptibility while the alloys experienced primary ferrite solidification showed low cracking susceptibility. The relative ranking in solidification cracking susceptibility was type 304=type 304N < type 321 < type 316L < type 309S.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2011

Weldability, especially HAZ cold cracking, weld metal solidification cracking, and HAZ liquation cracking susceptibilities, of ASTM A356 CA6NM martensitic stainless steel casting was investigated and compared with that of 9-12% Cr ferritic steel castings. Irrespective of the Cr and Ni content in the castings, the HAZ maximum hardness increased with an increase of carbon content. CA6NM steel, which has the lowest carbon content, had the lowest HAZ hardness and showed no cold cracking in y-slit cracking tests. CA6NM steel, meanwhile, showed the largest weld metal solidification cracking susceptibility in varestraint tests because of its higher amount of impurity elements, phosphorus, and sulfur. All castings investigated had good high temperature ductility in hot ductility tests and showed little difference in liquation cracking susceptibility.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to investigate weld metallurgical phenomena such as primary solidification mode, microstructural evolution and hot cracking susceptibility in nitrogen-bearing austenitic stainless steel GTA welds. Eight experimental heats varying nitrogen content from 0.007 to 0.23 wt.% were used in this study. Autogenous GTA welding was performed on weld coupons and the primary solidification mode and their microstructural characteristics were investigated from the fusion welds. Varestraint test was employed to evaluate the solidification cracking susceptibility of the heats and TCL(Total Crack Length) was used as cracking susceptibility index. The solidification mode shifted from primary ferrite to primary austenite with an increase in nitrogen content. Retained delta ferrite exhibited a variety of morphology as nitrogen content varied. The weld fusion zone exhibited duplex structure(austenite+ferrite) at nitrogen contents less than 0.10 wt.% but fully austenitic structure at nitrogen contents more than 0.20 wt.%. The weld fusion zone in alloys with about 0.15 wt.% nitrogen experienced primary austenite + primary ferrite solidification (mode AF) and contained delta ferrite less than 1% at room temperature. Regarding to solidification cracking susceptibility, the welds with fully austenitic structure exhibited high cracking susceptibility while those with duplex structure low susceptibility. The cracking susceptibility increased slowly with an increase in nitrogen content up to 0.20 wt.% but sharply as nitrogen content exceeded 0.20 wt.%, which was attributed to solidification mode shift fro primary ferrite to primary austenite single phase solidification.