Ultrasonic Analysis of Cracking Propagation Morphology in the Fusion Zone of High Strength Steel

Cracking morphology in the fusion zone of HQ130 high strength steel was researched by “the y-slit test“and “three-point bend test“,ultrasonic test and microscope.HQ130 and Q163 high strength steel welded by Ar CO2 gas shielded arc welding under the condition without preheating.Experimental results indicated that welding cracks were produced in the partially melted zone of the weld root ofHQ130 steel side and propagated parallel to the fusion zone.The cracks were developed alternatively between the weld and the partially melted zone, and are not strictly ruptured at W/F(weld metal/fusion zone) boundary surface.Controlling weld heat input(E) about 16kJ/cm could make the cracking rate lowest and satisfy the performance requirement of welded joint zone.     

Effect of weld heat input on toughness and structure of HAZ of a new super-high strength steel

Fracture morphology and fine structure in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of HQ130 super-high strength steel are studied by means of SEM, TEM and electron diffraction technique. Test results indicated that the structure of HAZ of HQ130 steel was mainly lath martensite (ML), in which there were a lot of dislocations in the sub-structure inside ML lath, the dislocation density was about (0.3∼ 0.9) x 10¹²/cm². No obvious twin was observed in the HAZ under the condition of normal weld heat input. By controlling weld heat input (E ≤20 kJ/cm), the impact toughness in the HAZ can be assured.     

Effect of cerium sulphide particle dispersions on acicular ferrite microstructure development in steels

Abstract

Of the phases found in wrought steels, cerium sulphide particles are notable in that they can be both stable at liquid metal temperatures and exhibit good lattice coherency with α iron. An investigation has been carried out to determine the effectiveness of cerium sulphide particle dispersions in nucleating intragranular acicular ferrite microstructures in steels. Vacuum melts of 50 kg have been manufactured of appropriate base steel compositions with varying additions of cerium (0·04–0·18%) and sulphur (0·01–0·04%). The work has shown that 0·02–0·12% cerium and 70–340 ppm sulphur may be retained in steels after deoxidation and desulphurisation reactions while oxygen can be reduced to <20 ppm. Resulting inclusions are largely spheroidal in shape and consist of several crystalline compounds, notably CeS, Ce₃S₄ and Ce₂O₂S. The inclusion numbers are of the order of 0·68–6·12 × 10⁶ mm^?3 with mean diameters of 0·63–1·70 μm. The densities of these inclusion dispersions are approaching those in weld metals where acicular ferrite is the dominant microstructure constituent. Significant volume fractions of acicular ferrite (up to 65%) have been obtained in steels after thermally cycling in a dilatometer and cooling at rates simulating transformation conditions ranging from high heat input welding to air cooling of forgings and water cooling of plate. A potential beneficial effect of acicular ferrite on mechanical properties in high heat input welding (heat affected zone grain refinement) and in thermo-mechanically processed steels (relaxed schedules) has been highlighted. A pilot plant billet cast of steel has shown the feasibility of achieving the required particle dispersions and acicular ferrite microstructure in tonnage steelmaking.     

Formation of acicular ferrite and influence of vanadium alloying

Abstract

The effect of vanadium microalloying in promoting a tough, acicular ferrite microstructure in C-Mn steels has been investigated. The microstructure obtained consisted of fine interlocking ferrite plates and was indistinguishable from acicular ferrite developed in steel weld metals, apparently from the intragranular nucleation of ferrite at inclusions. A number of variables were examined in high purity experimental steels including composition and heat treatment conditions, and related to a metallographic examination of the microstructure by high resolution micro-analytical transmission electron microscopy and surface analysis. A comprehensive study of the inclusions in the steels, containing different ratios of oxygen and nitrogen concentration, did not find any significant evidence that inclusion assisted nucleation was the sole determining factor in producing acicular ferrite. Moreover, no evidence could be found to relate vanadium alloying to significant vanadium nitride precipitation, either separately, or associated with the inclusions. Thus, in the present steels, any possible alternative influence of vanadium on intragranular ferrite nucleation is not obscured by effects associated with the inclusion population. The vanadium concentration appeared to be the most important influence in developing an acicular ferrite microstructure in these experimental steels, and this is not inconsistent with previous reports in the literature of a beneficial 'vanadium effect'. Evidence for vanadium segregation in the microstructure was found, which may be related to the effect of vanadium in encouraging the formation of acicular ferrite. Even when there is good evidence that inclusions are responsible for intragranular ferrite nucleation (as, for example, in steel weld metals), a 1 :1 inclusion-ferrite relationship has been difficult to establish. Thus, even an inclusion activated nucleation theory is likely to require additional intragranular ferrite formation without inclusion assistance, such as sympathetic or autocatalytic nucleation, and this could be reflected in the present study by vanadium atom clustering facilitating an alternative intragranular ferrite nucleation mechanism.     

Overview Inclusion assisted microstructure control in C–Mn and low alloy steel welds

Abstract

Inclusion assisted microstructure control has been a key technology to improve the toughness of C–Mn and low alloy steel welds over the last two to three decades. The microstructure of weld metals and heat affected zones (HAZs) is known to be refined by different inclusions, which may act as nucleation sites for intragranular acicular ferrite and/or to pin austenite grains thereby preventing grain growth. In the present paper, the nature of acicular ferrite and the kinetics of intragranular ferrite transformations in both weld metals and the HAZ of steels are rationalised along with nucleation mechanisms. Acicular ferrite development is considered in terms of competitive nucleation and growth reactions at austenite grain boundary and intragranular inclusion nucleation sites. It is shown that compared to weld metals, it is difficult to shift the balance of ferrite nucleation from the austenite grain boundaries to the intragranular regions in the HAZ of particle dispersed steels because inclusion densities are lower and the surface area available for ferrite nucleation at the austenite grain boundaries tends to be greater than that of intragranular inclusions. The most consistent explanation of high nucleation potency in weld metals is provided by lattice matching between ferrite and the inclusion surface to reduce the interfacial energy opposing nucleation. In contrast, an increase in the thermodynamic driving force for nucleation through manganese depletion of the austenite matrix local to the inclusion tends to be the dominant nucleation mechanism in HAZs. It is demonstrated that these means of nucleation are not mutually exclusive but depend on the nature of the nucleating phase and the prevailing transformation conditions. Issues for further improvement of weldment toughness are discussed. It is argued that greater numbers of fine particles of a type that preferentially nucleate acicular ferrite are required in particle dispersed steels to oppose the austenite grain boundary ferrite transformation and promote high volume fractions of acicular ferrite and thereby toughness.     

热输入对Q1100钢焊接接头低温韧性及耐蚀性能的影响

采用10 kJ/cm和15 kJ/cm两种焊接热输入对Q1100超高强钢进行熔化极气体保护焊,研究焊接接头的组织性能及局部腐蚀行为。结果表明：两种热输入焊接接头的焊缝组织主要为针状铁素体和少量的粒状贝氏体,粗晶区组织均为板条贝氏体,细晶区组织均为板条贝氏体和粒状贝氏体,临界相变区组织为多边形铁素体、马奥岛和碳化物的混合组织。两种热输入焊接接头中电荷转移电阻均为母材>热影响区>焊缝区,母材耐蚀性最好,热影响区次之,焊缝区耐蚀性最差。在腐蚀过程中,焊缝区作为阳极最先被腐蚀,当腐蚀一定时间后,腐蚀位置发生改变,阳极腐蚀区域转移到母材区,而焊缝区作为阴极得到保护。热输入为10 kJ/cm时,焊接接头具有更好的低温韧性和耐蚀性,其焊缝和热影响区-40℃冲击功分别为46.5 J和30.2 J。     

Effects of Mn and Ti on microstructure and inclusions in weld metal of high strength low alloy steel

Abstract

The influences of alloying elements on chemical composition of non-metallic inclusions, impact toughness and microstructure in weld metals of high strength low alloy steels have been studied. Results indicated that microstructure had changed from a mixture of acicular ferrite, proeutectoid ferrite, ferrite side plates and microphases to a mixture of acicular ferrite, bainite and microphases due to the addition of Mn and Ti. The impact toughness of weld metal was improved correspondingly. The volume fraction and composition of inclusions both influenced the proportion of acicular ferrite. Mn and Si based oxide globular inclusions located at the boundary of acicular ferrite plates in the weld metal produced using C–Mn–Si–Cu wire. When Mn and Ti were added to welding wires, the inclusions within acicular ferrite plates permitted fewer primary acicular ferrite plates to grow into relatively larger dimensions. Secondary acicular ferrites nucleating on pre-existing ferrite plates refined microstructure effectively.     

Finite element analysis of residual stress in the welded zone of a high strength steel

The distribution of the residual stress in the weld joint of HQ130 grade high strength steel was investigated by means of finite element method (FEM) using ANSYS software. Welding was carried out using gas shielded arc welding with a heat input of 16 kJ/cm. The FEM analysis on the weld joint reveals that there is a stress gradient around the fusion zone of weld joint. The instantaneous residual stress on the weld surface goes up to 800 ∼ 1000 MPa and it is 500 ∼ 600 MPa, below the weld. The stress gradient near the fusion zone is higher than any other location in the surrounding area. This is attributed as one of the significant reasons for the development of cold cracks at the fusion zone in the high strength steel. In order to avoid such welding cracks, the thermal stress in the weld joint has to be minimized by controlling the weld heat input.     

道间温度对10CrNi5MoV钢气体保护焊接头力学性能的影响

通过屈服强度和冲击韧性测试、组织分析,研究了两种焊接热输入条件下道间温度对10CrNi5MoV钢气体保护焊接头力学性能的影响。结果表明,随着道间温度从40℃提高到300℃,焊接热输入为8 kJ/cm和18 kJ/cm的焊缝金属屈服强度分别从868 MPa和855 MPa单调下降至728 MPa和693 MPa,-50℃冲击韧性分别从70 J和69 J升高至117 J和72 J(道间温度分别为200℃和100℃),然后降低至67 J和43 J;焊缝金属的组织差异是不同道间温度下焊接接头力学性能不同的原因。随着道间温度从40℃提高到300℃,焊缝金属中马氏体组织逐渐消失,粒状贝氏体组织逐渐增多,针状铁素体组织比例先增加再减少,含量最高时的道间温度与冲击韧性峰值水平相一致。     

Microstructure and Fracture Morphology in the Welding Zone of T91 Heat—resisting Steel Used in Power Station

Microstructure performance in the welding zone of T91 heat-resistant steel under the condition of TIG welding was researched by means of metallography, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Experimental results indicated that microstructure of T91 weld metal was austenite + a little amount of S ferrite when using TGS-9cb filler wire. Substructure inside the austenite grain was crypto-crystal lath martensite, on which some Cr23C6 blocky carbides were distributed. The maximum hardness (HRC44) in the welding zone is near the fusion zone. There existed no obvious softening zone in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). For T91 steel tube of $63 mmx5 mm, when increasing welding heat input (E) from 4.8 kJ/cm to 12 5 kJ/cm, fracture morphology in the fusion zone and the HAZ changed from dimple fracture into quasi-cleavage fracture (QC). Controlling the welding heat input of about 9.8 kJ/cm is suitable in the welding of T91 heat-resistant steel.     

Effects of heat input on microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–2Cr–Mo–0.12C steel

ABSTRACT

Thermal simulated specimens with the heat inputs of 20, 50 and 80?kJ/cm were used to investigate the effects of heat input on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Fe–2Cr–Mo–0.12C pressure-vessel steel. The results indicated that the microstructures in the coarse-grained heat affected zone of tested steels with various heat inputs were mainly consisted of lath martensite and bainite ferrite. As the heat input increased, the fraction of martensite decreased and the bainite ferrite fraction increased. The toughness (tested at ?40°C) and hardness for the heat input of 50?kJ/cm were 102?J and 346?HV, respectively, which was attributed to the high-volume fraction (60%) of the high-angle grain-boundary and the fine bainite lath.

This paper is part of a thematic issue on Nuclear Materials.     

Austenitic and ferritic stainless steel dissimilar weld metal evaluation for the applications as-coating in the petroleum processing equipment

The current study presents some fundamental observations on the effects of the welding heat input in the chemical composition, microstructure, hardness and petroleum corrosion resistance of the fusion zone, formed by the AWS E309MoL austenitic stainless steel covered electrode and the AISI 410S ferritic stainless steel, being a dissimilar welding procedure. Such welding configurations are widely used as an overlay of equipment in the petroleum and gas industries. The welds were performed with the application of three different levels in heat inputs (6, 9 and 12 kJ/cm). Samples of the weld metals were conventionally prepared for the microstructural characterization by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A corrosion test with samples immersed in heavy oil heated at 300 °C, was carried out for a period of 60 h. The corrosion rate was determined by the weight loss given after the aforesaid test. The fusion zone microstructure has a typical δ-ferrite acicular morphology, from which the level of δ-ferrite was duly altered with the increases of the welding heat input, due to the variations in the composition of the weld metal caused by dilution. It was also concluded that the chemical composition and the weld metal microstructure had a slight influence in the material’s corrosion rate. As a matter of fact, the corrosion rate of the weld metals evaluated herein, was considered satisfactory with few variations between the welding heat inputs duly applied.     

XRD and TEM analysis of microstructure in the welding zone of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb heat-resisting steel

Under the condition of tungsten inert gas shielded welding (TIG) + shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) technology, the microstructure in the welding zone of 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb (P91) heat-resisting steel is studied by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The test results indicate that when the weld heat input (E) of TIG is 8.5 ∼ 11.7 kJ/cm and the weld heat input of SMAW is 13.3 ∼ 210 kJ/cm, the microstructure in the weld metal is composed of austenite and a little amount of δ ferrite. The substructure of austenite is crypto-crystal martensite, which included angle. There are some spot precipitates in the martensite base. TEM analysis indicates that the fine structure in the heat-affected zone is lath martensite. There are some carbides (lattice constant, 1.064 nm) at the boundary of grain as well as inside the grain, most of which are Cr₂₃C₆ and a little amount of (Fe, Me)₂₃C₆.     

Influence of Heat Input on Martensite Formation and Impact Property of Ferritic-Austenitic Dissimilar Weld Metals

The effect of heat input on martensite formation and impact properties of gas metal arc welded modified ferritic stainless steel (409M) sheets (as received) with thickness of 4 mm was described in detail in this work. The welded joints were prepared under three heat input conditions, i.e. 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 kJ/mm using two different austenitic filler wires (308L and 316L) and shielding gas composition of Ar + 5% CO2. The welded joints were evaluated by microstructure and charpy impact toughness. The dependence of weld metal microstructure on heat input and filler wires were determined by dilution calculation, Creq/Nieq ratio, stacking fault energy (SFE), optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was observed that the microstructure as well as impact property of weld metal was significantly affected by the heat input and filler wire. Weld metals prepared by high heat input exhibited higher amount of martensite laths and toughness compared with those prepared by medium and low heat inputs, which was true for both the filler wires. Furthermore, 308L weld metals in general provided higher amount of martensite laths and toughness than 316L weld metals.     

Acicular ferrite transformation in alloy-steel weld metals

In this paper, the morphology of acicular ferrite in alloy-steel weld metals has been investigated. The effect of the grain size of prior austenite on acicular ferrite transformation has also been studied. It is found that acicular ferrite can form in reheated weld metals when the austenite grain size is relatively large. On the other hand, classical sheaf-like bainite will form at the same temperature if the austenite grain size is kept small. Further results strongly suggest that acicular ferrite is in fact intragranular bainite rather than intragranular Widmanstätten ferrite.     

线能量对06CuNiCrMoNb钢焊缝组织与性能的影响

系统研究了焊接线能量对06CuNiCrMoNb钢焊缝金属组织与性能的影响。结果显示,线能量对焊缝金属组织与性能有显著影响,随着线能量的增加,针状铁素体含量逐渐减少,粒状贝氏体量增多,先共析铁素体宽度增加;焊缝金属低温冲击韧性降低。     

热输入对E36钢SAW焊缝组织及韧性的影响

为提高建造海洋采油平台的效率、减少生产周期,进而为实际生产提供数据支持,采用3种不同热输入对海洋采油平台用E36钢进行埋弧焊焊接,通过光学显微镜(OM)、透射电镜(TEM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和电子背散射衍射技术(EBSD)对焊缝微观组织及夹杂物形貌进行了观察,研究了不同热输入对焊缝组织及韧性的影响,并分析了不同热输入对焊缝夹杂物尺寸分布和成分的影响.结果表明:热输入为50 k J/cm时,焊缝金属韧性较好;随着焊接热输入的增加,焊缝的冲击韧性降低,但仍能满足性能指标,焊缝金属中夹杂物成分相差较大,有效夹杂物数量减少,焊缝金属中大角度晶界比例减少;对于E36钢,热输入为160 k J/cm时不仅能使韧性符合要求还能提高生产效率.     

超细晶Q460高强钢焊接接头组织与韧性研究

采用手工焊条电弧焊和熔化极活性气体保护焊对超细晶Q460钢进行了焊接,分析表征了焊接接头的组织结构、显微硬度和冲击韧性的变化规律。研究结果表明,采用E5515焊条焊接,焊缝金属主要为先共析铁素体、多边形铁素体与少量珠光体。采用ER55-G焊丝,熔化极活性气体保护焊,焊缝金属主要由针状铁素体和少量多边形铁素体组成,焊丝中Ti元素的添加有利于获得针状铁素体组织。采用较小的焊接线能量,超细晶Q460钢热影响区粗晶区组织为粒状贝氏体组织。焊缝金属的显微硬度高于热影响区和母材的显微硬度,热影响区未出现软化现象。冲击试验表明,焊缝金属和热影响区均具有较高的冲击韧性,而且热影响区的韧性高于焊缝金属的韧性。     

Effect of welding heat input on microstructure and mechanical properties of simulated HAZ in Cu containing microalloyed steel

The influence of weld thermal simulation on ICGC HAZ microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu containing Nb-Ti-microalloyed steel has been investigated. Low heat input of 0.7 kJ/mm (simulated fast cooling of Δt _8/5 = 5 s) and high heat input of 4.5 kJ/mm (simulated slow cooling of Δt _8/5 = 61 s) were used to generate double-pass thermal cycles with peak temperatures of 1350 and 800 °C, respectively. The microstructure after high heat input mainly consisted of polygonal and quasi-polygonal ferrite (QF) grains with certain amount of acicular ferrite, whereas, after the low heat input, microstructure mainly consisted of lath or elongated bainite–ferrite, QF and M–A constituents. The size of ferrite grains decreased and volume of M/A constituents increased with fast cooling rate. The precipitation characteristics were found to be similar in both cooling rates. However, the precipitation of Cu-related phases was promoted by slow cooling rate. By fast cooling rate, the investigated steel exhibited an increase in hardness from 187_HV to 197_HV. Consequently higher yield strength with considerable loss in the (−10 °C) CTOD fracture toughness (δ_{fast cooling} = 0.86 mm and δ_{slow cooling} = 1.12 mm) were demonstrated.     

Formation of acicular ferrite at oxide particles in steels

Abstract

Experimental steels similar in composition to structural grades were prepared from weld metal deposits to study the formation of acicular ferrite under conditions experienced in the heat affected zone for a range of welding processes. The formation of acicular ferrite under these conditions is found to be dependent on the presence of a suitable distribution of oxide inclusions > 0·4 μm in size. The characteristics and proportion of acicular ferrite in the microstructure also depend on the prior austenite grain size and cooling rate. The relationship between these factors is presented in a simplified quantitative model, which is supported by data from limited welding trials. Metallographic observations suggest that acicular ferrite forms in two stages. The first involves the formation of relatively large primary acicular ferrite plates by multiple nucleation at intragranular inclusion sites, and the second involves the formation of many smaller acicular ferrite grains that grow sympathetically from the primary plates.

MST/1027