Sridhar2014 Article CharacterizationOfMicrostructu
Sridhar2014 Article CharacterizationOfMicrostructu
Sridhar2014 Article CharacterizationOfMicrostructu
Received: 25 January 2014 / Revised: 21 February 2014 / Published online: 3 August 2014
Ó The Chinese Society for Metals and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Abstract The dissimilar combinations of Inconel 625 and duplex stainless steel SAF 2205 obtained from manual GTA
welding process employing ER2209 and ERNiCrMo-3 filler metals have been investigated. Formation of secondary phases
at the HAZ of Inconel 625 and grain coarsening at the HAZ of SAF 2205 were witnessed while using these filler wires. The
average hardness of ER2209 weldments was found to be greater than ERNiCrMo-3 weld. Tensile fracture was observed at
the weld zones for both the fillers. Impact test trials showed brittle mode of fracture on employing ER2209 filler and mixed
(ductile–brittle) mode of fracture while using ERNiCrMo-3 filler. Further optical microscopy and SEM/EDS analysis were
carried out across the weldments to investigate the structure–property relationships.
KEY WORDS: Inconel 625; Duplex stainless steel; SAF 2205; Dissimilar metal welding; Microstructure;
Mechanical characterization
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Inconel 625 0.022 0.169 22.80 9.33 4.24 2.98 59.65 – Si 0.104; Cu 0.157; P 0.004;
S 0.010; Al 0.101; Co \ 0.005; Ti 0.235; Ta \ 0.02
UNS 2205 0.028 1.32 23.16 3.19 Bal. – 5.20 0.149 Si 0.372; P 0.026; S 0.005
ER2209 0.024 1.6 22.19 3.1 Bal. – 9.0 0.16 P 0.016; S 0.005
ERNiCrMo-3 0.05 0.18 22.4 9.2 0.8 3.8 Bal – Ti 0.22; Cu 0.25; S 0.004;
P 0.024; Si 0.20
Table 2 Process parameters employed in the GTA welding using different filler metals
Filler Welding pass Voltage (V) Current (A) Shielding gas flow Filler wire
rate (L/min) dia. (mm)
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Fig. 3 Microstructure showing dissimilar Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 weldments employing ER2209 a, b; ERNiCrMo-3 c, d fillers
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Fig. 4 Weld microstructures of the dissimilar Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 weldments employing ER2209 a, ERNiCrMo-3 b fillers; SEM
photographs at the weld zone ER2209 c, ERNiCrMo-3 d fillers
to the higher heat inputs developed during GTA welding results showed that there is enrichment of Mo and Fe in the
resulting in slow cooling rate. Columnar dendrites with weld interface adjacent to Inconel 625. This is attributed to
inter-dendritic arms were observed at the weld zone migration of Fe from SAF 2205 and Mo from Inconel 625
employing ER2209 filler. Fine dispersed secondary phases during the welding process, which is caused due to the
were also witnessed in between the inter-dendritic regions differences in elemental concentration gradients of base
across the entire zone, as shown in Fig. 4a and c. The and filler metal. The presence of secondary phases was
dendrite network in dark clearly appears in back-scattered observed, and these phases could be enriched with Fe–Ni–
electrons due to the segregation of heavy elements Nb and Cr as evident from the EDS results.
Mo in the inter-dendritic spaces which appear in a lighter Figure 5b represents the SEM and corresponding line
tone, as shown in Fig. 4b and d. According to the existing mapping results at the interface of ER2209 weld and SAF
literatures, the elements Mo, Si and, more particularly, Nb 2205. Similar to earlier discussion, there is an enrichment
are rejected in the inter-dendritic liquid during the solidi- of Ni, Mo and Fe in the weld zone. However the segre-
fication process, Ni and Fe being concentrated in the gation of Mo in the boundaries of the dendrite is highly
dendrite cores and are evident from the EDS analysis predominated as compared to other interface. Further, the
reported in the subsequent sections. results inferred the depletion of Mo and Ni in the weld
interface and this is evident from the migration of these
3.3 SEM and EDS Analysis elements as discussed in the earlier section. Figure 4d
shows the presence of austenitic matrix containing chains
3.3.1 SEM and EDAX Analysis on ER2209 Weldments of secondary phases in a skeleton structure. Different ori-
entation and colors of these phases could be ascribed to the
SEM and EDAX line mapping results of GTA ER2209 difference in solidification rate due to atomic weight of the
weld interface of Inconel 625 are represented in Fig. 5a. concentrated elements. Further the EDS results also wit-
SEM images witnessed the micrograph of the weldment nessed that there is enrichment of elements like Fe, Cr, Mo
which is discussed in the earlier Sect. 3.2. EDAX analysis and C.
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Fig. 5 Line mapping analysis on the dissimilar weldments employing ER2209 filler: a interface at Inconel 625 side; b interface at SAF 2205
side
EDS point analysis on ER2209 weld interface of both point analysis that the presence of Cr is 20.89 wt% which
SAF 2205 and Inconel 625 is represented in Fig. 6. The is lower at the voids as compared to dendritic core (Fig. 6a,
presence of voids has been observed at the weld zone b). Segregation has been observed as white precipitates at
adjacent to the interface of SAF 2205 employing ER2209. the weld fusion zone adjacent to the Inconel 625 side
This could be attributed to the depletion of Cr which (Fig. 6c). As evident from the EDS results, these segre-
evaporated during welding. It is also confirmed from the gations are enriched with elements such as Nb (5.81 wt%),
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Fig. 6 SEM/EDAX point analysis on the weld zone of the dissimilar weldments of Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 employing ER2209 filler: a,
b weld zone at the SAF 2205 side; c, d weld zone at the Inconel 625 side
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Fig. 7 Line mapping analysis on the dissimilar weldments employing ERNiCrMo-3 filler: a interface at Inconel 625 side; b interface at SAF
2205 side
Ti (0.22 wt%), and Mo (13.91 wt%). As these elements are in weld fusion zones of Ni–Cr–Mo alloys leads to a situ-
present in the inter-dendritic regions of the weld zone, they ation where dendrite cores are impoverished in elements
would be absent or found less in the matrix (Fig. 6d). This like Mo, and inter-dendritic regions are enriched in Mo,
could partially deteriorate the mechanical properties of the Nb, and sometimes Cr [13, 14]. Greater amounts of Nb
weldment. Similar observations were reported elsewhere; distribution occur principally in the inter-dendritic area and
the authors reported that the micro-segregation that occurs take the form of Nb-rich precipitates. These Nb-rich phases
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Fig. 8 SEM/EDAX point analysis on the weld zone of the dissimilar weldments of Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 employing ERNiCrMo-3 filler:
a weld interface—weld zone adjacent to SAF 2205; b–d weld zone
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Fig. 9 Hardness profile of the dissimilar weldments of Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 employing ER2209 a, ERNiCrMo-3 b fillers
would be either NbC and/or Laves phase. As reported by 2.98 wt% Nb, and 0.022 wt% C and hence tends to form
Dupont et al. [15, 16], a higher concentration of Nb tends the TiC and NbC during high-temperatures exposure.
to increase the volume of Nb-rich precipitates, while a These results confirmed by EDS point analysis have been
higher C content leads to the formation of NbC. However, discussed in detail in the next section.
the Laves phase forms readily with a high Nb and a low C Figure 8 represents the results of SEM/EDS point ana-
composition, particularly when Si and Fe are also present. lysis on ERNiCrMo-3 weld interface of both base metals.
The white precipitates were observed at the weld zone shown
3.3.2 SEM/EDAX Analysis on ERNiCrMo-3 Weldments in Fig. 8a and b, which were enriched with Nb and Ti in the
Inconel 625 side. This is attributed to the formation of phases
SEM and EDAX line mapping results of GTA-ERNiCrMo- such as NbC, (Nb,Ti) C as reported by Hosseini et al. [9].
3 weld interface of Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 are repre- Some segregation of secondary phases was noticed in the
sented in Fig. 7a and b. The results showed the enrichment SAF 2205 side (Fig. 8c, d). However, TEM and XRD
of Cr, Mo, and Ni in the weld zone with the meager analyses are required to confirm the presence of exact Nb-
depletion of Fe. This could be reasoned to the migration of rich precipitates formed in the weld zone.
elements during welding. However, there is a negligible
elemental movement experienced from the weld zone to 3.4 Hardness Test
Inconel 625 side or vice versa. SEM/EDAX analysis at the
weld zone envisaged the presence of macro-voids and the It is evident from the hardness profile that the average
presence of secondary phases in the voids. The SEM image hardness of GTA weldments employing ER2209 was found
of ERNiCrMo-3 weld and Inconel 625 shows the fully to be higher as compared to ERNiCrMo-3 weldments, as
austenitic matrix containing several types of precipitates. shown in Fig. 9. The average hardness at the cap, middle,
These precipitates were found in the dendrite and along the and root pass in the weld zone of ER2209 filler was found
grain boundaries. Inconel 625 contains 0.235 wt% Ti, to be 243.7, 265.2, and 280.2 HV and for the filler
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Table 3 Tensile properties of the dissimilar Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 GTA weldments with different fillers
Filler Trial Maximum UTS Average Young’s Elongation Fracture
load (kN) (MPa) UTS (MPa) modulus (GPa) at break (%) zone
Fig. 11 SEM fractographs on the tensile coupons of GTA weldments weldments; micro-voids and dimples with the clusters of
of Inconel 625 and SAF 2205 employing ER2209 a, ERNiCrMo-3 ductile tear ridges were found spread in the ERNiCrMo-3
b fillers weldments. Charpy V-notch impact studies inferred that the
weldments undergo brittle fracture for ER2209 and ductile–
ERNiCrMo-3 weldments is found to be almost five times brittle mode of fracture for ERNiCrMo-3 filler. However, the
better than ER2209 weldments (Fig. 12). In both the trials, impact toughness is found to be greater for the ERNiCrMo-3
the ER2209 weldments have shown poor resistance to weldments (42.7 J) in comparison with the ER2209 weld-
impact loading. The fractured surfaces are then examined ments (9.8 J). SEM fractographs however showed the pre-
using scanning electron microscopy and depicted in Fig. 13. sence of dimples with the ductile tearing ridges on the
The voids were found to be lesser and ridges appearing on the fractured surface of ERNiCrMo-3 weldments. As reported
surface with cracked boundaries were witnessed for ER2209 by Vernot-Loier and Cortial [19], the lower toughness values
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