Aleksandra Świerczyńska

Temper bead welding of S420G2+M steel in water environment

Abstract The article presents the idea of the use of Temper Bead Welding (TBW) technique to improve the weldability of high strength steel at underwater wet welding conditions. Wet welding method with the use of covered electrodes is described. This work shows results of metallographic examinations and hardness measurements of samples of S420G2+M steel with weld beads performed under water. It has been shown that Temper Bead Welding technique may provide a way to reduce the hardness of the welds, thus is a useful method for improving weldability of high strength steel welded in underwater conditions. The optimum overlap of weld beads (pitch) was set of 55÷100%.

Effect of Microstructure on Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel

Abstract This paper presents results of the research on impact of microstructure of austenitic-ferritic steel of duplex type on its mechanical properties and susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking. As showed, improper processing technologies more and more often used in shipbuilding industry for plates and other half-finished products made of duplex steel may cause significant lowering their properties, which frequently makes their replacing necessary. Results of the tests on stress corrosion under tension with low strain rate (SSRT) conducted in an inert and corrosion (boiling magnesium chloride) environment, are presented. It was proved that even minor structural transformations taking place in 500°C ageing temperature lower corrosion resistance of the steel. Structural transformations occurring in 700°C temperature to a smaller extent influence susceptibility to stress corrosion of the steel, however they cause drastic drop in its plasticity.

The Effect of Welding Conditions on Diffusible Hydrogen Content in Deposited Metal

The primary limitation of weldability of high strength low alloy steel is susceptibility to cold cracking. The important reason of the formation of cold cracks, besides forming brittle structure and residual stresses, is the presence of diffusible hydrogen in welded joint. The most effective methods reducing the susceptibility to cold cracking are connected with decreasing the amount of potential hydrogen. This process may be carried out in technological (drying welding filler materials, preheating components) or in a metallurgical way (filler metals with austenitic structure, adding rare-earths elements to filler metals as traps for hydrogen atoms in steel). The possibility to minimize the amount of diffusible hydrogen by changing the welding parameters seems to be particularly interesting. The article presents the results of a literature survey and preliminary tests which set out effects of welding conditions on the amount of diffusible hydrogen in deposited metal. Experiments were conducted by using rutile coated electrodes which generate high contents of diffusible hydrogen in deposited metal. The amount of diffusible hydrogen was determined by a glycerin test. Eleven factors were considered: the electrode angle, the grinding of sample, the preheat temperature, the polarity of welding current, the welding current, the welding – cooling time, the electrode usage, the time of welding, the thickness of specimen, the welding – measurement time and thickness of electrode coating. All factors were optimized using a Plackett-Burman design to get the most relevant variables. The results of the preliminary tests indicate that appropriate choice of welding parameters may considerably reduce diffusible hydrogen in deposited metal. However, the range of parameters is limited by the necessity of providing stability of the welding process and obtaining required properties of the welded joint.

Weldability of S500MC Steel in Underwater Conditions

Abstract Wet welding with the use of covered electrodes is one of the methods of underwater welding. This method is the oldest, the most economic and the most versatile. The main difficulties during underwater wet welding are: high cooling rates of the joint, the presence of hydrogen in the arc area and formation of hard martensitic structure in the weld. These phenomena are often accompanied by porosity of welds and large number of spatters, which are more advanced with the increase of water depth. In this paper result of non-destructive tests, hardness tests and metallographic observations of S500MC steel joints performed underwater are presented. The weldability of 500MC steel at water environment was determined

Diffusible Hydrogen Control in Flux Cored Arc Welding Process

One of the types of hydrogen degradation of steel welded joints is cold cracking. The direct cause of the formation of cold cracks is simultaneous presence of hydrogen, residual stresses and brittle structure. The way of preventing the occurring of degradation is to eliminate at least one of these factors. Practice has shown that the best solution is to control the amount of hydrogen in deposited metal. In this paper an experimental evaluation of the effect of the welding parameters on the content of diffusible hydrogen in deposited metal obtained from rutile flux cored wire grade H10 was carried out. The state of the art of considered issues was described and results of preliminary investigations were presented. Five factors were considered: the flow rate of shielding gas, the welding current, the arc voltage, the welding speed and the electrode extension. All factors were optimized using a Plackett-Burman design to get the most relevant variables. The level of diffusible hydrogen was determined by a glycerin test. The results of the experiment indicate that appropriate choice of welding parameters may significantly reduce diffusible hydrogen content in deposited metal.

The Effect of Pre-Hydrogen Charging on Corrosion Behaviour of Superduplex Stainless Steel Welded Joints

The paper presents results of research undertaken to determine the influence of hydrogen on passivity and corrosion resistance of 2507 super duplex stainless steel welded joints. Butt welded joints were made with low heat input using flux corded arc welding (FCAW) method. Coupons of 5.0 x 5.0 mm were cut from the welded joints containing weld metal (WM), heat affected zone (HAZ) and parent metal (PM). Hydrogen was introduced into the samples by cathodic current method under galvanostatic condition at room temperature. Corrosion resistance was qualified with the polarization curves registered in synthetic sea water. Electrochemical hydrogen charging affected the native passive layer. The internal hydrogen shifted corrosion potential to the more active direction and cause an increase in corrosion current density. The corrosion sensitivity increases for higher current density applied during hydrogen charging. Weld metal area has been revealed as the most sensitive to corrosion attack.

The Effect of Welding Conditions on Mechanical Properties of Superduplex Stainless Steel Welded Joints

ABSTRACT The tests results of superduplex stainless steel welded joints made with a different heat input, using automatic submerged arc welding (SAW) and semi-automatic flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) have been presented. Metallographic examinations, the measurements of the ferrite content, the width of the heat affected zone (HAZ) and the hardness of the welds in characteristic areas have been performed. Significant differences in the amount of ferrite in the weld metal and in the heat affected zone microstructure of joints were found.