Influence of Aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of T92/Super 304H dissimilar metal welds

Influence of aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of T92/Super 304H dissimilar steel joints was investigated. The microstructure of T92/Super 304H dissimilar steel joints was characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer. The results show that the tensile strength of dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) after 10,000 h aging treatment met the ASME T92 and Super 304H standards. Rupture positions were located in the T92 base metal because of the precipitates formed along the sub grain and prior grain boundaries. The tensile strength of DMWs initially increased with time up to 4000 h, then decreased between 4000 to 6000 h, and finally came to almost a constant value from 8000 to 10,000 h exposure. The decrease in the tensile strength resulted from the nucleation and growth of Laves phases at the sub-grains and prior austenitic grain boundaries. The low absorption of impact energy in the weld metal was related to the coarse grains and its grain orientation.