Juan Manuel Pardal

Deleterious phases precipitation on superduplex stainless steel UNS S32750: characterization by light optical and scanning electron microscopy

Deleterious phases precipitation in superduplex stainless steels is the main concern in fabrication by welding and hot forming of this class of material. Sigma, chi and secondary austenite phases are considered deleterious phases because they produce negative effects on corrosion resistance. Besides, sigma and chi phases also promote strong decrease of toughness. In the present work, the precipitations of sigma, chi and secondary austenite under aging in the 800-950 °C interval were studied in two UNS S32750 steels with different grain sizes. The deleterious phases could be quantified by light optical microscopy, with no distinction between them. Scanning electron microscopy was used to distinguish the individual phases in various aging conditions. The results elucidate the influence of the aging temperature and grain size on the kinetics precipitation and morphology of deleterious phases. The kinetics of deleterious phases is higher in the fine grained material in the initial stage of aging, but the maximum amount of deleterious phases is higher in the coarse grained steel.

Study of deleterious phase precipitation under continuous cooling of superduplex stainless steel UNS S32750

Abstract Duplex and superduplex stainless steels have high strength and high corrosion resistance with a crescent demand in chemical and petrochemical industries. The best mechanical properties of this family of steels are obtained with approximately equal parts of ferrite and austenite. Grain refinement increases the toughness and resistance to environmentally assisted cracking. The precipitation of tertiary phases, such as σ, χ and secondary austenite, decreases the mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. The σ phase is the most dangerous of these deleterious phases and the one that precipitates in higher amounts. The majority of research works on deleterious phases in duplex and superduplex steels evaluate the kinetics of precipitation in specimens isothermally treated. In the present work, the precipitation of deleterious phases during continuous cooling from 1100°C was evaluated by optical and scanning electron microcopies, hardness measurements and electrochemical corrosion tests. Two superduplex stainless steel steels UNS S32750 with similar composition but quite different grain sizes were analysed in order to evaluate the influence of this microstructural feature.

Influence of Heat Treatment in Residual Stresses Generated in P91 Steel-pipe Weld

The knowledge of residual stress arising from the welding processes is extremely important because the mechanical properties of the welded components are not only determined by the microstructures present in the joint, but also by the heterogeneous residual stresses introduced during the thermal cycle in welding processes. The aim of this work is the characterization of ASTM P91 steel-pipe welded by Metal Cored Arc Welding &Flux Cored Arc Welding (MCAW/FCAW) processes, through the residual stresses evaluation associated with welding and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT). Residual stresses were analysed by X-ray diffraction technique with sin2ψ method, presenting tensile behaviour with higher magnitude at the weld metal of root region. The PWHT promoted the relief of the residual stresses in the both regions. High Vickers microhardness values were observed in the weld metal region before the PWHT, which was very efficient to reduce them.

Influence of tempering on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti alloyed 13%Cr supermartensitic stainless steel

Abstract Tempering is the final heat treatment applied to martensitic steels. In conventional martensitic stainless steels or in the newly developed supermartensitic grades, the mechanical properties are strongly influenced by tempering. In the present work, several tempering treatments were performed in a Ti alloyed supermartensitic stainless steel. Tensile mechanical properties, hardness and impact toughness were measured and correlated to microstructural features. Microstructural analysis was conducted in a field emission gun scanning electron microscope and also by magnetic measurements. The ductility parameters continuously increased with tempering temperature, while yield and ultimate strength decreased. Secondary hardening and temper embrittlement were observed by hardness and low temperature impact tests respectively, while tensile tests were not sensitive to these phenomena.

Effects of post weld heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar weld of supermartensític stainless steel

A supermartensitic stainless steel with composition 12.2%Cr-5.8%Ni-1.90%Mo-0.028%C (%wt.) was welded by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) with superduplex stainless steel filler metal. Post weld heat treatments (PWHT) at 650 oC for different periods of time were performed in order to decrease the hardness in the heat affected zone (HAZ). This paper deals with the effect of these heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joint. Mechanical strength of the weld joint was slightly inferior to the base metal, but was not affected by heat treatments. Precipitation of intermetallic phases in the weld metal (WM) due to prolonged PWHT was detected by scanning electron microscopy. The impact toughness of the weld metal decreased with the increase of time of heat treatment, due to intermetallic precipitation. However, even in the specimen treated for 1h, the Charpy energy remained above 27J at -46 oC. It was found that optimum mechanical properties can be obtained with heat treatment for 30 minutes at 650 oC.

Tensile properties of duplex UNS S32205 and lean duplex UNS S32304 steels and the influence of short duration 475 ºC aging

Duplex stainless steels are high strength and corrosion resistant steels extensively used in the petrochemical and chemical industries. The aging at 475 °C for long periods of time provokes embrittlement and deterioration of corrosion resistance. However, short duration aging at 475 °C may be used as heat treatment to improve mechanical resistance with small decrease in the other properties. In this work the flow stress curves of lean duplex UNS S32304 and duplex UNS S32205 steels were modeled with Hollomon’s equation and work hardening exponents (n) were determined. The analyses were conducted in specimens annealed and heat treated at 475 °C for short periods of time. The aging at 475 °C for 4 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours promoted significant hardening with small decrease of ductility. The work hardening exponents of both steels were compared, being higher in the duplex steel than in the lean duplex grade.

Corrosion in surgical instruments

The surgical instruments that are on the market for use in medical and dental treatments, most of which are designed for specific actions in specific types of surgery, are usually manufactured from stainless steels, including AISI-420 and AISI-304, as well as titanium alloys. They are manufactured by many different companies, which means that the materials used to make them have a variety of sources, types of alloys, material quality, mechanical fabrication processes and costs. Surgical instruments are subject to contamination, or bacterial adherence to the instruments, from various sources, which can have an enormous impact on human health. Hospitals and clinics are well-suited environments for this to happen, since they concentrate both particularly susceptible hosts and highly resistant micro-organisms. Therefore, cleaning and sterilization of all surgical instruments after each use is essential. Typically, steam autoclaves and solutions of chlorine-based oxidants or similar chemicals are used. These methods of cleaning can cause premature deterioration of the instruments, reducing their lifespan. Unannounced inspections of hospitals often detect instruments containing small fractures, microscopic cracks, pitting, and crevices that should invalidate their use in surgery. The objectives of this study are to identify the types of corrosion that occur in the process of sterilization and to critically assess the matter in relation to the costs of the instruments available in the Brazilian market. Finally, this study aims to clarify and publicize the problem of the quality of surgical instruments that can be used in hospitals, possibly compromising the health of the population.

Comparación de la estimación de la productividad del proceso de soldadura eléctrica por los métodos de simulación de Monte Carlo e Hipercubo Latino

The ability of Monte Carlo simulation and Latin Hypercube Sampling methods in estimating the productivity of the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) applied in works of industrial piping assembly based on small samples is evaluated. The study was conducted by analyzing a sample collected from assembly operations done at refinery Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The ControlTub 5.3 software was used for data acquisition and MathWorks in the simulation step. For data analysis the results were compared using the proposed simulation methods. Then the similarities and differences between the methods to estimate the process productivity in analysis were evaluated. The results demonstrated the feasibility of applying the methods of Monte Carlo Simulation and Latin Hypercube Sampling in estimating productivity considering a welding process of industrial pipes.

Mechanical properties and corrosion resistance evaluation of superduplex stainless steel UNS S32760 repaired by GTAW process

Abstract Superduplex stainless steels (SDSSs) are alloys widely used in the exploration and production of oil. They are used in marine and offshore components such as heat exchangers, umbilicals, sea water injection lines and various other equipment that requires high corrosion resistance with elevated mechanical strength values. These characteristics are due to its fine two-phase microstructure composed of similar proportions of austenite and ferrite and the alloying elements of Cr, Ni, Mo, N and W. However, during welding, and also in the stages of fabrication and pipe assembly, the presence of defects may occur that requires the need for repair procedures to be carried out on the welded joint. This study aims to characterise the microstructure, mechanical properties, nitrogen content and critical pitting temperature (CPT) of a SDSS pipe, UNS S32760, in certain regions of a welded joint, where the gas tungsten arc welding process was performed, with the completion of two sequential repair procedures. The results show that there is a decrease in the value of the CPT at the root of the weld, though there are not substantial variations in the mechanical properties analysed.

Influence of interpass temperature on the properties of duplex stainless steel during welding by submerged arc welding process

Abstract Duplex stainless steels are materials that present high corrosion resistance with high values of mechanical strength, therefore motivating their use in various components in the offshore industry. However, there are major challenges in the welding of these materials in terms of the productivity and quality of the joint produced, considering its extensive use for components of small thickness, such as umbilicals, to those of large thickness, such as salt water injection pipelines. In relation to pipes of small thickness, the gas tungsten arc welding process is successfully used. In thick-walled pipes, the automatic process of submerged arc welding (SAW) has been recently implemented in lines of pre-assembled piping, and this has considerably increased the productivity of the joints produced, though, a great deal of time is required to perform a new weld pass, due to the fact that the maximum interpass temperature needs to be lower than 150 °C. This work presents the results of characterization and the evaluation of corrosion resistance of a welded joint corresponding to DSS UNS S31803, with a wall thickness of 21.4 mm, welded by the gas metal arc welding process in the root and SAW process in the filling and cap passes, employing an interpass temperature between 150 and 290 °C. The results of the characterization of the mechanical properties, chemical composition and corrosion resistance in different regions of the welded joint were compared with those obtained for the base metal of the pipe, as well as with the minimum values required by the project standards. Therefore, this study has made an evaluation of the influence of the interpass temperature in the properties of the joints produced, motivated by a possible increase in productivity in pipe welding.