Effect of Martensite–Austenite Constituent on Low-Temperature Toughness in YS 500 MPa Grade Steel Welds

The effect of martensite–austenite (M–A) constituents and simulated microstructure on low-temperature toughness was investigated in YS 500 MPa grade structural steel welds. The specimens were fabricated using a direct quenching and tempering process. After simulated weld thermal cycles, the coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) and intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (IRCGHAZ) were produced using a Gleeble tester and real welded joint to support the simulation results. The largest low-temperature toughness was observed in the fine-grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) owing to the fine-ferrite microstructure. However, the toughness decreased in the IRCGHAZ because of the slender morphology of the M–A constituents that formed primarily along the prior austenite grain boundaries in the IRCGHAZ

Effect of post weld heat treatment on weldability of high entropy alloy welds

The effect of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) temperature on laser beam welds in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) using a cold-rolled cantor system (CoCrFeMnNi) was investigated. Laser welding of low heat input was applied to reduce thermal distortion. The cold-rolled HEA welds indicated larger grain size and inferior tensile/hardness properties as compared to the base metal (BM). By applying PWHT, the welds showed superior hardness to the BM with no variation in the face-centred cubic phase and a decrease in the size and fraction of CrMn oxide inclusions. As the PWHT temperature increased (800-1000 degrees C), the variation in the grain size decreased between the weld metal and heat-affected zone, thus resulting in approximately the same tensile strength and elongation of the transverse welds as compared to the BM.11Nsciescopu

Effect of the Initial Grain Size on Laser Beam Weldability for High-Entropy Alloys

This study investigated the effect of the initial grain size on the laser beam weldability of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Cold-rolled, annealed, and cast HEAs with different initial grain sizes exhibited clear differences in weldability. The cold-rolled, annealed, and cast HEAs exhibited grain sizes of 1.5, 8.1, and 1.1 mm, respectively. The grain size of the weld metal (WM) in cold-rolled/annealed HEAs was coarser than that of the base metal (BM), whereas the grain size of the WM in the cast HEA was finer than that of the BM. Shrinkage voids were present in the central region of all laser WMs. The cold-rolled and annealed HEA exhibited a tensile strength greater than 600 MPa owing to the grain size of the coarse WM and the presence of shrinkage voids; however, tensile fracture occurred in the central region of the WM. However, because the grain size of the cast HEA BM was finer than that of the WM, the tensile fracture occurred in the BM, and it had the same tensile properties as the BM. Therefore, the laser weldability of the HEA depended on the initial grain size, and the grain refinement of the WM was essential for improving the weldability

Superior-tensile property of CoCrFeMnNi alloys achieved using friction-stir welding for cryogenic applications

The friction-stir weld (FSW) was investigated based on the relationship between microstructural and mechanical properties at room and cryogenic temperatures for rolled and cast Co0.2Cr0.2Fe0.2Mn0.2Ni0.2 high entropy alloys (HEAs). The rolled and cast HEA welds exhibited good weldability without welding defects. The grain size (GS) of the stir zone (SZ) for rolled and cast HEAs was smaller than that of the base metal (BM). The W, Cr, and C particles caused by the wear of the WC-Co tool formed fine M23C6 carbides, due to the heat generated during the FSW, and accelerated the recrystallization via the particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) effect. Therefore, the area with M23C6 carbide exhibited a finer grain size compared with the area without M23C6 carbide. The rolled HEA was fractured in the SZ owing to the thinning phenomenon, and the cast HEA was fractured in the BM owing to the GS of the SZ, which was much finer than the GS of the BM. However, both HEA welds had larger room temperature strength than BM, and the cryogenic strength was also improved owing to the primary twin, secondary twin, and tangled dislocation. The PSN effect due to the carbides contributed to the increase in strength. Therefore, the FSW of the rolled and cast HEAs produced in this study is suitable for cryogenic applications.11Nsciescopu

Laser dissimilar weldability of cast and rolled CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys for cryogenic applications

This study investigates the effects of welding velocity on weldability of dissimilar cast/rolled high-entropy alloys and the applicability of cryogenic temperatures. Cast HEA side of dissimilar weld metal (WM) indicates a larger dendrite packet and dendrite arm spacing (DAS) than rolled WM. Size difference is associated with epitaxial growth from each base metal (BM). As the welding velocity increases (6-10 m min(-1)), shrinkage voids and DASs decreases. Dissimilar welds show tensile properties comparable to cast BM, where there are tensile fractures of dissimilar welds. Cryogenic properties of dissimilar welds are superior to those of room-temperature welds, because deformation twins and dislocation densities are significantly formed at 77 K. Therefore, dissimilar welds can be applied to the production of cryogenic products.11Nsciescopu

Enhancement of tensile properties of gas tungsten arc welds using Cu-coated CoCrFeMnNi filler and posteweld heat treatment

This study investigated the gas tungsten arc (GTA) weldability of cold-rolled CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) using Cu-coated HEA filler, specifically through the application of various post–weld heat treatment (PWHT) temperatures. The GTA weldability of cold-rolled HEA was evaluated by applying the optimum condition of full penetration, and the effect of PWHT was investigated in the temperature range of 973–1173 K. No macro-defects were detected in the weld metal (WM) to which the Cu coated HEA filler was applied. All the PWHT-applied specimens, including the as-welded specimens, were composed of the FCC phase. The Cu component was solid-solutionized over the entire area of the WM and did not form a precipitate. The tensile properties of the as-welded specimens deteriorated in the presence of CrMn oxides. As the PWHT temperature increased, the grain size in the base metal (BM) increased and inclusions in the WM were re-dissolved. Furthermore, by increasing the PWHT temperature, the hardness of the BM decreased significantly by grain growth, and the WM softened slightly owing to the re-dissolution of inclusions. Therefore, the WMs improved the tensile strength and elongation with increasing PWHT temperature. The application of PWHT significantly improved the weldability of the Cu coated CoCrFeMnNi welds.11Nsciescopu

Development of Fe–Cr–Si deposited layer manufactured by laser directed energy deposition process

In this study, the mechanical and corrosion characteristics of a corrosion-resistant layer made of stainless steel (STS) 316 L and Fe–Cr–Si alloy powder were investigated using laser-directed energy deposition (DED). In the STS 316 L deposited specimen, both the substrate and deposited layer were face-centred cubic (FCC). The deposited Fe–Cr–Si layer was clearly separated from the substrate because it was composed of body-centred cubic (BCC). Despite the phase differences, the surface of the Fe–Cr–Si-deposited layer showed a lower corrosion rate than that of the STS 316 L. All the deposited specimens exhibited typical high-temperature tensile behavior. However, the Fe–Cr–Si deposited layer at 600 °C showed a notable reduction in strength and increased elongation compared to the room temperature (RT) and 300 °C test results owing to the carbide concentration and phase transformation in the deposited layer. Because nuclear facilities mainly operate at temperatures below 600 °C, Fe–Cr–Si materials can also be used as nuclear piping coating materials. This study provides a mechanism for the high-temperature properties and corrosion resistance of the Fe–Cr–Si deposited layer and makes it competitive for application in fourth generation nuclear power systems

Effect of Laser Traverse Speed on the Metallurgical Properties of Fe-Cr-Si Clads for Austenitic Stainless Steel Using Directed Energy Deposition

This study investigated the microstructural and compositional behavior of Fe-Cr-Si clads produced in stainless steel (STS) 316 L with a decreased laser traverse speed using directed energy deposition (DED). The substrate of all specimens was mostly composed of austenite, while the clad region consisted of the δ-ferrite, martensite, and a small amount of retained austenite. The reduced heat input by increasing the laser traverse speed resulted in decreased dilution of the Ni component and the substrate’s unmixed zone, resulting in a gradual decrease (16−1%) in the face-centered cubic (FCC: austenite) phase of the clad region. In addition, in the clad region composed of body-centered cubic (BCC), the fraction of martensite decreased, but the fraction of the δ-ferrite increased by decreasing the heat input. The reason for this was that dense martensite was formed in the entire clad region owing to a sufficient cooling rate for phase transformation and dilution of the Ni component in the 12 mm/s specimen with the highest heat input. Therefore, to predict the corrosion and wear characteristics of the Fe-Cr-Si multilayer clad manufactured in STS316L, the formation of martensite by the dilution of the Ni component should be sufficiently considered

Effect of Grain Size on Carburization Characteristics of the High-Entropy Equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi Alloy

In this study, the carburization characteristics of cast and cold-rolled CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with various grain sizes were investigated. All specimens were prepared by vacuum carburization at 940 °C for 8 h. The carburized/diffused layer was mainly composed of face-centered cubic structures and Cr7C3 carbide precipitates. The carburized/diffused layer of the cold-rolled specimen with a fine grain size (~1 μm) was thicker (~400 μm) than that of the carburized cast specimen (~200 μm) with a coarse grain size (~1.1 mm). In all specimens, the carbides were formed primarily through grain boundaries, and their distribution varied with the grain sizes of the specimens. However, the carbide precipitates of the cast specimen were formed primarily at the grain boundaries and were unequally distributed in the specific grains. Owing to the non-uniform formation of carbides in the carburized cast specimen, the areas in the diffused layer exhibited various carbide densities and hardness distributions. Therefore, to improve the carburization efficiency of equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi HEAs, it is necessary to refine the grain sizes