Kyutae Han

Mn-Depleted Zone Formation in Rapidly Cooled High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Welds

The mechanism of formation of an Mn-depleted zone (MDZ) near the inclusion in a steel weld was elucidated based on quantification of MDZ depth and thermodynamic calculations. The effective inclusion phase for intragranular nucleation, which increased as a function of increasing chemical driving force, satisfied the requirements for presence of a considerable quantity of Mn in the phase, and a lower precipitation temperature compared with the solidus temperature of the matrix.

Evaluation of solidification cracking susceptibility of Fe–18Mn–0·6C steel welds

Abstract Solidification cracking susceptibilities of high Mn steel welds were evaluated in the present study. A longitudinal Varestraint technique was utilised to assess the solidification cracking behaviours of the fusion zone. High Mn steel welds were more susceptible to solidification cracking than 304 and 202 austenitic stainless steel welds, however, they were less susceptible than 310S austenitic stainless steel welds. Extensive segregations of Mn and C took place at the dendritic and grain boundaries in the weld metal, and accordingly contributed to the increase of the hot cracking susceptibility of high Mn steel by the enlargement of solidification temperature range. Further, continuous γ-(Fe,Mn)3C eutectic phases formed at 1090°C along the grain boundary primarily resulted in the increase of solidification cracking sensitivity in high Mn steel.

Oxide Formation Mechanisms in High Manganese Steel Welds

Oxide inclusions in high-Mn steel welds were analyzed and almost all of which were found to belong to the MnO-Al2O3-SiO2 system. In this study, the inclusions were categorized based on MnS morphology into the following two types: (1) aluminosilicate with a MnS patch, or (2) aluminosilicate with a MnS shell. The most frequently detected was type 1, the formation mechanism of which was investigated using commercially available thermochemical computing software, FactSage™ (ver. 6.3). The thermodynamic calculations predicted that galaxite (MnAl2O4), tephroite (Mn2SiO4), and MnS could precipitate during solidification. However, because of the fast cooling rate in welding processes, galaxite and tephroite phases were unable to fully crystallize, but rather were supercooled as glassy phases. In order to confirm the validity of the thermodynamic calculations, the composition of the observed inclusions was compared with the MnO-SiO2-Al2O3 ternary phase diagram, resulting in remarkably good agreement. Furthermore, it was found that the type of the oxide inclusions was dependent on their location (i.e., MnS shell- and MnS patch-type oxides were detected at the dendritic core and interdendritic boundary, respectively). Both types of oxides were occasionally found in one oxide, near the interdendritic boundary. This indicates that the morphology variation originates from the redistribution of solute due to fast solidification.

Effect of Restraint Stress on the Precipitation Behavior and Thermal Fatigue Properties of Simulated Weld Heat Affected Zone in Ferritic Stainless Steel

Abstract Thermal fatigue life of the automobile exhaust manifold is directly affected by the restraint force according to the structure of exhaust system and bead shape of the welded joints. In the present study, the microstructural changes and precipitation behavior during thermal fatigue cycle of the 18wt% Cr ferritic stainless steel weld heat affected zone (HAZ) considering restraint stress were investigated. The simulation of weld HAZ and thermal fatigue test were carried out using a metal thermal cycle simulator under complete constraint force in the static jig. The change of the restraint stress on the weld HAZ was simulated by changing the shape of notch in the specimen considering the stress concentration factor. Thermal fatigue properties of the weld HAZ were deteriorated during cyclic heating and cooling in the temperature range of 200to 900due to the decrease of Nb content in solid solution and coarsening of MX type precipitates, laves phase, M 6 C with coarsening of grain and softening of the matrix. As the restraint stress on the specimen increased, the thermal fatigue life was decreased by dynamic precipitation and rapid coarsening of the precipitates.Key Words : Thermal fatigue, Ferritic stainless steel, Heat affected zone, Precipitation

Liquation behavior in the weld HAZ of high Si nodular iron

In the present study, liquation behavior including the constitutional liquation phenomena in the weld heataffected zone (HAZ) of nodular cast iron with 4% Si was investigated. The thermal cycle of the weld HAZ was simulated using a Gleeble simulator at various peak temperatures and a fast heating rate of 1000 °C/sec was selected to observe the constitutional liquation phenomenon. Differential thermal analysis has shown that the eutectic constituents of γ + Laves and γ + Fe3C begin to melt at 1120 °C and 1140 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, constitutional liquation by γ/graphite reaction occurred above 1140 °C, due to carbon enrichment around the graphite nodules.