An Investigation of the Massive Transformation from Ferrite to Austenite in Laser-Welded Mo-Bearing Stainless Steels

A series of 31 Mo-bearing stainless steel compositions with Mo contents ranging from 0 to 10 wt pct and exhibiting primary δ-ferrite solidification were analyzed over a range of laser welding conditions to evaluate the effect of composition and cooling rate on the solid-state transformation to γ-austenite. Alloys exhibiting this microstructural development sequence are of particular interest to the welding community because of their reduced susceptibility to solidification cracking and the potential reduction of microsegregation (which can affect corrosion resistance), all while harnessing the high toughness of γ-austenite. Alloys were created using the arc button melting process, and laser welds were prepared on each alloy at constant power and travel speeds ranging from 4.2 to 42 mm/s. The cooling rates of these processes were estimated to range from 10 K (°C)/s for arc buttons to 10⁵ K (°C)/s for the fastest laser welds. No shift in solidification mode from primary δ-ferrite to primary γ-austenite was observed in the range of compositions or welding conditions studied. Metastable microstructural features were observed in many laser weld fusion zones, as well as a massive transformation from δ-ferrite to γ-austenite. Evidence of epitaxial massive growth without nucleation was also found when intercellular γ-austenite was already present from a solidification reaction. The resulting single-phase γ-austenite in both cases exhibited a homogenous distribution of Mo, Cr, Ni, and Fe at nominal levels.