Evaluation of Heat Input and Cold Wire Addition on Dimensional, Chemical and Metallurgical Characteristics of The Weld Metal Obtained by Submerged Arc Welding in UNS S32304 Lean Duplex Steel

Abstract

The maximum recommended welding energy (HI) of 2.5 kJ.mm^-1 represents a limiting factor for the productivity increase for duplex stainless steels welding, and the addition of cold wire is an interesting alternative to this question. It has been evaluated the influence of welding energy and the addition of cold wire on the dimensional, chemical and metallurgical characteristics of the weld metal (WM) of SAW welds in lean duplex steel UNS S32304, using the ER2209 filler metal. The ICE^TM system was used to add a cold wire between two twin energized wires to produce bead-on-plate welds, applying four different HIs and varying the percentage of cold wire (AF) in relation to the hot wires at 0, 50 and 100%. It has been performed chemical analysis, macrography, dimensional analysis, optical microscopy and MEV / EDS in the WM of all conditions. The WM microstructure was constituted by a ferritic matrix with grain boundary, Widmanstatten and intergranular austenite and non-metallic inclusions. No deleterious precipitates such as σ, χ and chromium nitride were observed. The addition of cold wire increased the deposition rate and reduced dilution, achieving higher pitting resistance equivalent number, mainly for higher HI conditions, and higher austenite fractions. This indicates that the higher cold wire feed speed provides increased productivity and WM pitting corrosion resistance.

Key-words:
“Lean” duplex; Cold wire; SAW; Dilution