The duplex and superduplex stainless steels have an austenitic-ferritic microstructure with an average fraction of each phase of approximately 50%. This duplex microstructure is responsible for the excellent mechanical properties, specially the yield strength and toughness, and for the improved pitting and stress corrosion cracking resistance in chloride environments. Welding of these steels is often a critical operation. In this work, a superduplex stainless steel SAF 2507 pipe was welded by the GTAW process in the root pass and by SMAW process on filler passes, and one pipe of duplex SAF 2205 was entirely welded by the GTAW process. The microstructure of the base metal, heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal was characterized and quantified. Toughness and corrosion resistance and chemical composition were evaluated and correlated. The results of impact Charpy-V tests were considered adequate. Precipitation of intermetallics, carbides and nitrides has not been observed. The best corrosion resistance results presented by the superduplex stainless steel welded joint, compared to the duplex steel, was attributed to the lower delta ferrite content in the weld metal and HAZ, and the weld metal chemical composition enriched in Cr, Mo, W and N.
Duplex and superduplex stainless steel; Welding; Mechanical properties; pit corrosion; Microstructure
