Effect Of Welding Parameters On The Properties Of Austenitic Stainless Steel Weldments

The main aim of this of this work is to study the effect of shielding gas composition on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of AISI 321 stainless steel welds. The shielding gas mixtures used in this study were:1- Argon / nitrogen mixture (97% Ar - 3% N2).2- Pure Argon3- Argon / carbon dioxide mixture (97% Ar - 3% CO2).4- Argon / oxygen mixture (98% Ar - 2% O2).To demonstrate the effect of shielding gas mixtures used in this study, both non destructive and destructive testing were performed. Non-destructive tests (NDT) were dye penetrant test (PT) and Gamma-Ray radiographic test (RT). Destructive tests (DT) were transverse tensile test, Vickers hardness test, charpy V-notched impact test, side bend test. Furthermore, metallographic testing (Macro and Micro structure), chemical and EDX analysis, fractography using SEM, Ferrite number (FN) measurement and electrochemical corrosion testing of all welds were carried out.