Microstructural features and corrosion properties in laser welded duplex stainless steels

Synopsis

The most common techniques of underwater welding and cutting used in practice are described. In spite of the adverse effect of pressure, present‐day technology enables good quality joints to be made. The local dry chamber, and wet‐welding with a shielded electrode methods, characterised by their low cost, are used at shallow depths down to 60 m. The hyperbaric, dry method of mechanised TIG and MIG welding is used at depths down to 200 m. Results of underwater automatic cutting by an arc‐oxygen method at depths down to 600 m, and the equipment used are discussed.