The solidification and welding metallurgy of galling-resistant stainless steels
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
The autogenous welding behavior of two commercial galling-resistant austenitic stainless steels, Nitronic 60 and Gall-Tough, was evaluated and compared. The solidification behavior and fusion zone hot-cracking tendency of the alloys was evaluated by using differential thermal analysis, Varestraint testing and laser spot-welding trials. Gleeble thermal cycle simulations were used to assess the hot ductility of the alloys during both on-heating and on-cooling portions of weld thermal cycles. Solidification microstructures were characterized by light optical and electron microscopy, and the solidification modes and phases were identified. Gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds in both alloys solidified by the ferritic-austenitic mode, and their behavior was best described using chromium and nickel equivalents developed specifically for the Nitronic series of alloys. Both alloys were found to be somewhat more susceptible to solidification hot cracking than conventional austenitic stainless steels, although the cracking resistance of Nitronic 60 was somewhat superior to Gall-Tough. Laser spot-welding trials resulted in both fusion and heat-affected zone cracking in the Nitronic 60, while Gall-Tough was resistant to cracking in these high-solidification-rate welds. Comparison of the laser weld microstructures indicated that Nitronic 60 shifts to fully austenitic solidification, while Gall-Tough shifts to an austenitic-ferritic solidification mode in high-energy-density processing. The hot ductility measurements indicated that Gall-Tough is generally superior to Nitronic 60 in both on-heating and on-cooling tests, apparently as a result of differences in grain size and the mechanism of ferrite formation at high temperatures.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 292962
- Journal Information:
- Welding Journal, Vol. 77, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Characterization of solidification and weldability of Fe-29Ni-17Co alloys
Weld-cracking mechanisms in austenitic stainless steels