Plasma arc welding Hp-9Ni-4Co-0.30C steel
The plasma arc welding process is used to fabricate the advanced solid rocket motor (ASRM) casing for the Space Shuttle. Plasma arc welding (PAW) was chosen because this process assures a full penetration root pass with the keyhole mode. The HP 9Ni-4Co-0.30C steel was chosen for the ASRM application because the material has excellent strength, toughness, and weldability. The minimum mechanical property requirements of the weldment are 190 ksi yield, 205 ksi ultimate, 8% elongation, 25% reduction in area and 90 ksi/in. fracture toughness. Therefore, a comprehensive development plan was performed to fully characterize plasma arc welding HP 9Ni-4Co-0.30 steel. The test technique systematically varied the essential plasma arc parameters: current, travel speed, plasma gas or wire feed speed while maintaining constant arc length and torch set-up conditions. This PWHT produced the best combination of strength, toughness, and acceptable residual stresses. Variations in land thickness, plasma gas flow rate, current, travel speed, and arc length were characterized by measuring weld bead shape geometry. The weld procedure was found to be tolerant to rather wide parameter variations.
- OSTI ID:
- 115444
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9404233--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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