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Title: Simulation of deep water wet weld microstructures using electrodes with high oxidizing potential

Conference ·
OSTI ID:115488
; ;  [1]
  1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

The properties of underwater wet (UWW) welds are greatly affected by water depth. Ibarra and Olson [1] showed that the oxygen content of the weld increases with increasing depth while the amount of deoxidants such as Mn and Si decreases. This change in chemical composition adversely affects both the tensile strength and toughness of the weld. The present research was designed to understand the influence of oxidizing ingredients in the electrode covering on the chemical composition, weld bead appearance and microstructure of wet welds. Changes in the ability of the electrode to supply oxygen to the weld pool were made through modifications of the hematite to rutile (Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}/TiO{sub 2}) ratio in the covering.The weld deposited by the rutile electrode (no hematite addition) presented the lowest oxygen content (1700 ppm). When the oxidizing character of the electrode increased the concentration of inclusions, mainly FeO, in the weld also increased. However, the increase in oxygen pickup was not monotonous but reached a `saturation` value at approximately 2100 ppm. These results suggest that the microstructure and properties of wet welds deposited at great depths by rutile electrodes will be similar to those made by oxidizing electrodes at much shallower depths. Hence studying oxidizing electrodes and improving their properties will help the development of electrodes for wet welding at greater depths. It is also a much cheaper way of `simulating` welding at higher pressures.

OSTI ID:
115488
Report Number(s):
CONF-9404233-; TRN: 95:002927-0066
Resource Relation:
Conference: 75. American Welding Society (AWS) annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA (United States), 10-15 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of 75th Diamond anniversary American Welding Society annual meeting; PB: 273 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English