Papers by Keyword: Post Weld Heat Treatment

Abstract: The strengthening effect due to high-temperature tempering (HTT) at 700 °C on the microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints between medium-Mn stainless steel (MMnSS) and high-strength carbon steel (CS) was studied. The microstructure of the weldments was investigated using Laser and scanning electron microscopes. An Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) was used to assess quantitatively the elemental distribution profiles of alloying elements within the weld zone. The strengthening precipitates induced during welding and HTT were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Uniaxial tensile tests and microindentation hardness (H_IT) measurements of the weld joints were conducted to evaluate the strengthening effect. Fully fresh-martensite and fine-tempered martensitic structures were promoted in the as-weld and HTT processes, respectively. The HTT structure exhibited a remarkable improvement in mechanical properties (a better combination of yield and tensile strength together with moderate ductility) compared to its weld counterpart. TEM investigation revealed that various types of precipitates have been promoted in the structures of the weld and HTT, e.g., nanosized vanadium and chromium carbides. It is apparent that the proposed HTT of the joints is an effective treatment for improving the mechanical properties due to inducing the formation of fine interphase precipitates, resulting in enhanced mechanical strength of the joints.

Abstract: The influence of post weld heat treatments (PWHT) at 400°C, 600°C, 900°C on microstructures in heat affected zone (HAZ) of dissimilar welds between carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel was studied. As-welded condition, the fully Martensitic layer along the fusion line, Widmanstatten Ferrite, Bainite, Pearlite phases in the HAZ of carbon side and the fully austenitic zone in the weld metal can be observed. After PWHT, the microstructures of these zones were dramatically modified as a result of carbon diffusion from the carbon steel toward the weld metal. Decarburization of the base metal led to the formation of a zone with large Ferrite grains. Bainite or fine Pearlite were formed by carbon diffused to both the interfacial Martensite and the purely Austenite zone. The lowest hardness value in the decarburization zone was 92HV on average after PWHT at 900°C and the peak hardness value that was documented in the carburize zone with 366HV at 600°C. Carbides precipitation (M₂₃C₆, M₇C₃) were found in both the HAZ of carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel.

Abstract: In this work, both Finite element simulated method and contour method experimental measurement are used to obtain residual stresses of different Titanium welded alloys, the results show that the maximum of the residual stress is mainly related to the internal restraint degree which formed inside of the thickness, the distribution of the residual stress depends primarily on the shape of weld shape. The heating stage plays a major role in relaxing the residual stress in this research. 95% of the residual stress is relieved in the temperature rising period, and about 75% of it is relieved in the temperature rising period when the temperature is above 500°C.

Abstract: There are many welding methods which have been currently performed to prolong the life time of exhaust valve of marine engine from an economic point of view. In this study, one of these welding methods, plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding was performed at the base metal of Nimonic 80A which would be used as the material of exhaust valve with three kinds of filler metals such as Stellite 6, Inconel 625 and Inconel 718. The mechanical and corrosion characteristics were investigated with electrochemical and wear loss test methods. The Nimonic 80A as the base metal had a better corrosion resistance than those of the weld metals welded with three types of the filler metals. However, after post weld heat treatment, all these weld metals mentioned above exhibited better corrosion resistance compared to the base metal, shifting the corrosion potential to the noble direction, and pitting corrosion was more or less observed at the surface of Nimonic 80A after post weld heat treatment. In particular, Inconel 625 showed the best corrosion resistance among the filler metals after heat treatment. The wear ratio of Stellite 6 showed the lowest value due to its highest hardness among the filler metals, however, its ratio by cavitation test exhibited the highest value. It is considered that increasing of embrittlement with increasing the hardness was resulted in increasing the wear loss by cavitation test.

Abstract: It is well known that the significant weight reduction and increased strength have placed advanced aluminum-lithium alloys at the forefront of aerospace materials research. For example the use of aluminum-lithium based alloys for rocket fuel tank domes can reduce weight because aluminum-lithium alloys have lower density and higher strength than Al-Cu alloy 2219. However, Al-Li alloys have been shown the inherent low formability characteristic that make them susceptible to cracking during the spinning operations. In this study a novel heat treatment process on the formability of friction stir welded Al-Li alloy blanks are presented. It is shown that the successful heat treatment process has been developed with superior mechanical properties and currently the patent is applied.

Abstract: Aluminium matrix composites have received the attention of numerous researchers, because of its attractive properties like high strength, good thermal conductivity and more strength to weight ratio. Application of the conventional welding processes for aluminium matrix composites, facilitates the formation of undesirable phase at the welded region, which limits the wide spread application. The objective of this paper is to review the literatures belonging to the friction stir welding of the composites and explore the challenges associated to maximize joint efficiency. The major contribution of this paper is to study the issue of welding of ex-situ and in-situ composites, various process parameters, properties of joint and post weld heat treatment process to improve the joint efficiency. This literature review provides some research gaps in the friction stir welding of composites.

Abstract: A fusion reactor is expected as one of the new electric power sources in next generation. Reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H is planned to be used as a structural material for the blanket modules set on the inner wall of the reactor. However, especially in the case of laser beam welding (LBW), the weldability of the steel was not completely clarified. On the other hand, although post weld heat treatment (PWHT) should be conducted for the welds of the steel in accordance with general standards for chrome steels, the heat treatment conditions were uncertain. Therefore, adaptability of LBW as a joining method for the steel and the applicable PWHT conditions for the welded joints were investigated in this study. The effect of LBW conditions on weld penetration behavior were ascertained by observation of cross sections in the welds. The adequate PWHT conditions were confirmed in consideration of both hardness distributions measured in welds and ductile-brittle transition temperatures (DBTT) evaluated using Charpy impact test. Full penetration without weld defects such as hot cracking, porosity etc. was obtained for plates with the thickness of 4mm of the steel by control welding conditions. That means laser beam is one of useful welding heat sources to realize sound weld joints of the steel. In addition, due to select appropriate PWHT conditions, the hardness in welds was suppressed to the level of base metal and the toughness in the welded joints was improved to a practical level without the damage to base metal.

Abstract: The present work is part of a wide research program which the main goal is the development of welding procedures for chain and accessories for application in mooring systems of oil platforms. In the specific case of the work in subject, the development of different covered electrodes formulations is discussed for obtaining high mechanical strength and impact toughness, of the order of 860 MPa and 50 joules at –20°C, respectively. Welded joints using the developed electrodes were prepared for evaluation of the mechanical properties, using preheat of 200°C, direct current, flat position and heat input of 1.5 kJ/mm. After welding, tensile, impact Charpy-V and hardness tests were performed in specimens removed integrally from the weld metal, both in as welded and heat treated conditions. The post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was conducted at 600°C for 1, 2 and 3 hours. The results shows that the obtained weld metals have mechanical properties higher than the minimum required for the welding of a IACS W22 R4 Grade steel, and particularly good impact properties, which indicates that the correct control of the chemical composition, particularly, of Mn-Ni balance, makes possible to achieve an adequate strength/toughness relationship for high strength steel weld metals, where the PWH is mandatory. In addition, it was verified that the increase in the time of PWHT did not promote substantial impairment on mechanical properties.

Abstract: In this research, the post weld heat treatment (PWHT) of duplex stainless steel (DSS) was study. The PWHT process can be affected by differing parameters. The specimen was duplex stainless steel UNS31803 grade sheet of 10 mm thickness. The PWHT parameters were analyzed by application of full factorial design. The factors used in this study were PWHT temperature of 650, 750, and 850 ^๐C with PWA time of 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours. The welded specimens were tested with micro vickers hardness and ferrite content testing according to ASTM E3-11 code. The result showed that both of PWHT temperature and PWHT time interaction on hardness and ferrite content for 95% confidential (P value < 0.05). The factor in most effect of hardness was the PWHT temperature of 850^๐C and PWHT time for 4 hour at the hardness of 277.73 HV. The ferrite was the most ferrite content for 77.39% resulted in corrosion resistance due to suitable of PWHT temperature 750 ^๐C and PWHT time for 8 hour. Finally, form PWHT process with the information was used choosing the appropriate for PWHT parameters to duplex stainless steel welds.

Abstract: Alloy X-750 also has excellent properties down to cryogenic temperatures high stability and strength at high temperatures. This reason the alloy is used in manufacturing of gas turbine hot components. The research was study the effect of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) parameter on hardness and microstructure. The specimen was Inconel X-750 grade sheet of 2.8 mm thickness. This 2³ factorial design was used in experimental various post weld heat treatment at 705 and 845°C for 20 and 24 hour including solution temperature at 1,000 and 1,150°C. The welded specimens were tested by hardness testing in fusion zone (FZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ). The result showed that both of solution temperature, PWHT temperature and PWHT time interaction on hardness of FZ and HAZ at 95% confidential (P value < 0.05). The PWHT temperature and PWHT time interaction effect was the largest. The factor showed in the hardness increase with the low level (-1) of PWHT temperature and PWHT time for the hardness while it trended decrease for the solution temperature. The microstructure was the γ amount and small size would result in high hardness. Experimental results showed that the solution temperature at 1,150°C, PWHT temperature 705°C PWHT time of 20 hours provided intensity of gamma prime (γ) and MC carbide resulting in higher hardness both in FZ and HAZ.