Corrosion Resistance of Dissimilar Joints of AISI 316L and Inconel 718 Alloys

Abstract

Dissimilar Metal Welds (DMWs) union of two different metallic materials has many industrial applications, with emphasis for heat exchangers in nuclear power plants. Therefore, they must have enhanced corrosion and mechanical stress resistances, among other properties. The focus of this work is the analysis of the susceptibility to corrosion of the joint (made by TIG welding – Tungsten Inert Gas) of two different materials: Inconel 718 and AISI 316L stainless steel, without filler metal. Micrographic and ferroscopy analyses were performed for different heat input conditions and correlated with the electrochemical behavior of this joint in an environment containing chlorides. The metallographic and ferroscopy analyses did not reveal sigma phase formation during welding and showed high ferrite content in the region of the fusion zone near the HAZ (heat affected zone) of the 316L. The electrochemical corrosion tests showed that the samples in the different regions presented the following decreasing order of localized corrosion resistance: Sample with higher heat input (0.50 J / mm), at the interface ZF / Inconel > Sample with lower heat input (0.33 J / mm) at the interface ZF / Inconel > Sample with lower heat input, at interface ZF / 316L > Sample with higher heat input at interface ZF / 316L > 316L . Finally, the different heat inputs did not cause a significant decrease in the corrosion resistance in the different regions of the weld in relation to 316L.

Key-words:
Autogenous TIG; Corrosion; Dissimilar; Heat input; Polarization curve