Microstructural Evolution on the T91 Dissimilar Metal Joints during Creep Rupture Tests

T91 steel is one of the new materials presently employed in power plant pipe components. The creep rupture strength and microstructure of the T91+10CrMo910 and T91+13CrMo44 welded joints were analyzed during creep rupture tests. Creep transgranular ductile rupture occurred at the 10CrMo910 matrix in the T91+10CrMo910 welded joints and creep intergranular brittle rupture occurred at the 13CrMo44 HAZ in the T91+13CrMo44 joints. Microhardness measurements showed high hardness at the heat affected zone (HAZ) of T91 and a sharply drop at the 13CrMo44 HAZ during creep rupture. The metallographic tests showed that no obvious microstructure degradation was observed in the 10CrMo910 HAZ and matrix, while creep cracks appeared at the 13CrMo44 HAZ. T91 steel had relatively high creep resistant strength in the welded joints tested. Recovery occurred in the T91 HAZ with the growth of subgrain size and the decrease of dislocation density during creep. It was concluded that the dissimilar joints of T91 and low alloy heat-resistant steel should have close creep strength matching to increase the service life of the overall joints at elevated temperature.

Research on the creep damage and interfacial failure of dissimilar metal welded joint between 10Cr9Mo1VNbN and 12Cr1MoV steel

The mechanical properties, creep damage, creep rupture strength and features of interfacial failures of welded joints between martensite (SA213T91) and pearlite steel (12Cr1MoV) have been investigated by means of argon tungsten pulsed arc welding, high temperature accelerated simulation, creep rupture, mechanical property tests and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The research results indicate that the mechanical properties of overmatched and medium matched joint deteriorate obviously, and they are susceptible to creep damage and failure after accelerated simulation operation 500 h, in the condition of preheat 250℃, and post welding heat treatment 750℃×1 h. However, the mechanical properties of undermatched joint are the best, the interfacial failure tendency of undermatched welded joint is less than those of medium and overmatched welded joint. Therefore, it is reasonable that low alloy material TR31 is used as the filler metal of weld between SA213T91and 12Cr1MoV steel.

Numerical Simulation on Interfacial Creep Failure of Dissimilar Metal Welded Joint between HR3C and T91 Heat-Resistant Steel

The maximum principal stress, von Mises equivalent stress, equivalent creep strain, stress triaxiality in dissimilar metal welded joints between austenitic（HR3C） and martensitic heat-resistant steel（T91） are simulated by FEM at 873 K and under inner pressure of 42.26 MPa. The results show that the maximum principal stress and von Mises equivalent stress are quite high in the vicinity of weld/T91 interface, creep cavities are easy to form and expand in the weld/T91 interface. There are two peaks of equivalent creep strains in welded joint, and the maximum equivalent creep strain is in the place 27-32 mm away from the weld/T91 interface, and there exists creep constrain region in the vicinity of weld/T91 interface. The high stress triaxiality peak is located exactly at the weld/T91 interface. Accordingly, the weld/T91 interface is the weakest site of welded joint. Therefore, using stress triaxiality to describe creep cavity nucleation and expansion and crack development is reasonable for the dissimilar metal welded joint between austenitic and martensitic steel.

Effect of joining temperature on microstructure and properties of diffusion bonded Mg/Al joints

The joining of AZ31B Mg alloy to 6061 Al alloy was investigated at different joining temperatures by vacuum diffusion bonding method. The microstructures of Mg/Al dissimilar joints were studied by means of optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive X-ray （EDX）. The results show that the thickness of each layer in the diffusion zone increases with the increase of joining temperature, and the microstructure changes obviously. At joining temperature of 440 °C, the diffusion zone is composed of Mg2Al3 layer and Mg17Al12 layer. At joining temperatures of 460 and 480 °C, the diffusion zone is composed of Mg2Al3 layer, Mg17Al12 layer, eutectic layer of Mg17Al12 and Mg-based solid solution. The width of high-hardness zone in the joint increases with increasing joining temperature, and the micro-hardnesses at different locations in the diffusion zone are significantly different. The joining temperature of 440 °C offers the highest tensile strength of 37 MPa, and the corresponding joint exhibits brittle fracture at the intermetallic compound layer of Mg17Al12.

Influence of Creep Strength of Weld on Interfacial Creep Damage of Dissimilar Welded Joint between Martensitic and Bainitic Heat-Resistant Steel

The mechanical properties, creep rupture strength, creep damage and failure characteristics of dissimilar metal welded joint （DMWJ） between martensitic （SA213T91） and bainitic heat-resistant steel （12Cr2MoWVTiB（G102）） have been investigated by means of pulsed argon arc welding, high temperature accelerated simulation, mechanical and creep rupture test, and scanning electronic microscope （SEM）. The results show that there is a marked drop of mechanical properties of undermatching joint, and low ductility cracking along weld/G102 interface is induced due to creep damage. Creep rupture strength of overmatching joint is the least. The mechanical properties of medium matching joint are superior to those of overmatching and undermatching joint, and creep damage and failure tendency along the interface of weld/G102 are lower than those of overmatching and undermatching joint after accelerated simulation for 500 h, 1 000 h, 1 500 h, and the creep rupture strength of medium matching joint is the same as that of undermatching joint. Therefore, it is reasonable that the medium matching material is used for dissimilar welded joint between martensitic and bainitic steel.

Creep Rupture of Mismatched Welded Joints of Steels with Dissimil ar Creep Strengths

The finite element analysis of mismatched welded jo ints with a 30°groove angle was performed to study the mechanical behavior of D MWJs (dissimilar metal welded joints). It is concluded that the distribution of stress triaxiality in the DMWJs is uneven, especially near the fusion lines. The degree of creep strength mismatch has remarkable effect on the distribution. Th e higher the level of mismatch is, the more uneven the distribution is and the e asier for premature failure to occur in the joint.

Achieving High‑Quality Aluminum to Copper Dissimilar Metals Joint via Friction Stir Double‑Riveting Welding

In order to achieve a high-quality joining of aluminum(Al)and copper(Cu)dissimilar metals,a new friction stir doubleriveting welding(FSDRW)with a Cu rod as the rivet was proposed,and the rotating tool with a large concave angle shoulder was specially designed.The results showed that under the thermal–mechanical effect of rotating tool,the Cu rod was deformed to be a double riveting heads structure with a Cu anchor at the upper surface of Al plate and an Al anchor above the lap interface of joint,and these two anchors greatly enhanced the mechanical interlocking of Al/Cu joint.The effective bonding interfaces were formed among the double riveting heads structure,the upper Al plate and the lower Cu plate,which contained the Cu/Cu interface and the Al/Cu interface.The Cu/Cu interface without the kissing bond and the Al/Cu interface with the rationally thin AlCu and Al_(2)Cu intermetallic compounds(IMCs)layers were beneficial to heightening the joint tensile shear strength.The maximum tensile shear load of the FSDRW joint achieved 5.52 kN,and the joint under different plunging depths of rotating tool presented a mixed mode of ductile fracture and brittle fracture.This novel FSDRW technique owns the advantages of strong mechanical interlocking and superb metallurgical bonding,and provides a new approach to acquiring a high-quality Al/Cu dissimilar metals joint.

Microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties of steel stud to Al alloy by CMT welding-brazing process

Cold metal transfer （CMT） welding of nickel-coated Q235 steel studs with 606l Al alloy was carried out using ER4043 as filler metal. The welding process was stable, and appearance of weld formed well without surface defect under the parameters of welding current 121 A, welding voltage 15.4 V and welding speed 6 r/min. The microstructure of fiUer metal was analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy. The filler metal and 6061 Al alloy were fused to form fusion welding interface, the fusion zone had a good bonding without any micro defect. The steel stud did not melt and brazing interface was formed between the filler metal and steel stud. Two different reaction layers existed in the brazing interface, the Fe2Al5 layer about 10 -12 p^m formed near the steel stud side, and the other layer was mainly composed of FeAl3. Nickel-rich zone was formed in the root toe area of the fillet weld, which was mainly composed of Al3Ni2. The tensile tests showed that the maximum shearing strength of the joints was 129 MPa. The joint was brittle fractured in the intermetallic compound layer where plenty of FeAl3 were distributed continuously.

Microstructure and intergranular stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of a SA508-52M-316L dissimilar metal weld joint in primary water

Correlation of microstructure and intergranular stress corrosion cracking （IGSCC） susceptibility for the SA508-52M-316L dissimilar metal weld joint in primary water was investigated by the interrupted slow strain rate tension test following a microstructure characterization. The susceptibility to IGSCC in var- ious regions of the dissimilar metal weld joint was observed to follow the order of Alloy 52 Mb〉 the heat affected zone of 316L〉 the dilution zone of Alloy 52 Mw〉 Alloy 52 Mw weld metal. The chromium- depletion at the grain boundary is the dominant factor causing the high IGSCC susceptibility of Alloy 52 Mh. However, IGSCC initiation in the heat affected zone of 316L is attributed to the increase of resid- ual strain adjacent to the grain boundary. In addition, the decrease of chromium content and increase of residual strain adjacent to the grain boundary increase the IGSCC susceptibility of the dilution zone of Alloy 52 Mw.

Influence of Rotational Speed on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar Metal AISI 304-AISI 4140 Continuous Drive Friction Welds

Fundamental investigation of continuous drive friction welding of austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304) and low alloy steel (AISI 4140) is described. The emphasis is made on the influence of rotational speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, notch tensile strength and impact toughness of the dissimilar joints. Hardness profiles across the weld show the interface is harder than the respective parent metals. In general, maximum peak hardness is observed on the stainless steel side, while other peak hardness is on the low alloy steel side. A trough in hardness distribution in between the peaks is located on the low alloy steel side. Peak hardness on the stainless steel and low alloy steel side close to the interface increases with a decrease in rotational speed. All transverse tensile joints fractured on stainless steel side near the interface. Notch tensile strength and impact toughness increase with increase in rotational speed up to 1 500 r/min and decrease thereafter. The mechanism of influence of rotational speed for the observed trends is discussed in the torque, displacement characteristics, heat generation, microstructure, fractography and mechanical properties.

Effect of Heat Input on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Joints Made by Bypass-Current MIG Welding–Brazing of Magnesium Alloy to Galvanized Steel

Experiments were carried out with bypass-current MIG welding–brazing of magnesium alloy to galvanized steel to investigate the effect of heat input on the microstructure and mechanical properties of lap joints. Experimental results indicated that the joint efficiency tended to increase at first and then to reduce with the increase of heat input. The joint efficiency reached its maximum of about 70% when the heat input was 155 J/mm. The metallurgical bonding between magnesium alloy and steel was a thin continuous reaction layer, and the intermetallic compound layer consisted of Mg–Zn and slight Fe–Al phases. It is concluded that bypass-current MIG welding–brazing is a stable welding process, which can be used to achieve defect-free joining of magnesium alloy to steel with good weld appearances.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Laser-Friction Stir Welding between AA6061-T6 Al Alloy and AZ31 Mg Alloy

For the purpose of improving the strength of this dissimilarjoint, the present study was carried out to investigate the improvement in intermetallic layer by using a third material foil between the laying edges of the friction stir welded and hybrid welded AI6061-T6/AZ31 alloy plates. The difference in microstructural and mechanical characteristics of friction stir welded and hybrid welded AI6061-TO/AZ31 joint was compared. Hybrid butt- welding of aluminum alloy plate to a magnesium alloy plate was successfully achieved with Ni foil as filler material, while defect-free laser-friction stir welding （FSW） hybrid welding was achieved by using a laser power of 2 kW. Transverse tensile strength of the joint reached about 66% of the Mg base metal tensile strength in the case of hybrid welding with Ni foil and showed higher value than that of the friction stir welded joint with and without the third material foil. This may be due to the presence of less brittle Ni-based intermetallic phases instead of Al12Mg17.