Materials Today: Proceedings | 2019
Optimizing the Plasma Arc Welding Process Parameters to Attain the Minimum Corrosion Rate in the AISI 409M grade Ferritic Stainless Steel Autogenous Joints
Abstract
Abstract The combination with good mechanical properties and manufacturing characteristics, makes stainless steel an indispensable tool for the designer. Stainless steels become susceptible to localized intergranular corrosion when chromium carbides form at the grain boundaries during high temperature exposure. This depletion of chromium at the grain boundaries is termed ‘sensitization’, because the alloys become more sensitive to localized attack in corrosive environments. Stainless steels like AISI 409M grade, which are having low chromium content (approximately 11%), are susceptible to localized corrosion. The susceptibility of these alloys are strongly affected by welding processes and filler metals, which change the microstructure of the alloy in order to have optimum mechanical properties. Hence, the present investigation has been carried out to understand the effect of Plasma Arc Welding (PAW) process on pitting corrosion behavior of AISI 409M grade stainless steel joints. Also, the PAW process parameter such as welding speed, voltage, heat input were optimized with help of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to attain the maximum tensile strength and minimum corrosion rate in the welded joints.