Effects of Laser Shock Processing on Mechanical Properties of Laser Welded ANSI 304 Stainless Steel Joint

With the rapid development of engineering component with integration,high-speed and multi-parameter,traditional techniques haven＇t met practical needs in extreme service environment.Laser welding,a new welding technology,has been widely used.However,it would generate the drop of mechanical properties for laser welded joint due to its thermal effect.Laser shock processing（LSP） is one of the most effective methods to improve the mechanical properties of laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel joint.In this paper,the effects of LSP on the mechanical properties of laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel joint have been investigated.The welded joint on the front of the tensile samples is treated by LSP impacts,and the overlapping rate of the laser spot is 50%.The tensile test of the laser welded joint with and without LSP impacts is carried out,and the fracture morphology of the tensile samples is analyzed by scanning electron microscope（SEM）.Compared with the yield strength of 11.70 kN,the tensile strength of 37.66 kN,the yield-to-tensile strength ratio of 0.310 7,the elongation of 25.20%,the area reduction of 32.68% and the elastic modulus of 13 063.876 MPa,the corresponding values after LSP impacts are 14.25 kN,38.74 kN,0.367 8,26.58%,42.29% and 14 754.394 MPa,respectively.Through LSP impacts,the increasing ratio of the yield strength and tensile strength are 121.79% and 102.87%,respectively;the elongation and area reduction are improved by 5.48% and 29.38%,respectively.By comparing with coarse fracture surface of the welded joint,the delamination splitting with some cracks in the sharp corner of the welded joint and asymmetric dimples,LSP can cause brighter fracture surface,and finer and more uniform dimples.Finally,the schematic illustration of dimple formation with LSP is clearly described.The proposed research ensures that the LSP technology can clearly improve the yield strength,tensile strength,yield-to-tensile strength ratio,elongation,area reduction and elastic modulus of the welded joint.The enhancement mechanism of LSP on laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel joint is mainly due to the fact that the refined and uniform dimples effectively delay the fracture of laser welded joints.

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Bionic Non-Smooth Stainless Steel Surface by Laser Multiple Processing

Laser multiple processing, i.e. laser surface texturing and then Laser Shock Processing (LSP), is a new surface processing technology for the preparation of bionic non-smooth surfaces. Based on engineering bionics, samples of bionic non-smooth surfaces of stainless steel 0Crl 8Ni9 were manufactured in the form of reseau structure by laser multiple processing. The mechanical properties (including microhardness, residual stress, surface roughness) and microstructure of the samples treated by laser multiple processing were compared with those of the samples without LSP The results show that the mechanical properties of these samples by laser multiple processing were clearly improved in comparison with those of the samples without LSP The mechanisms underlying the improved surface microhardness and surface residual stress were analyzed, and the relations between hardness, comnressive residual stress and roughness were also presented.

Evolution of plasticized MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based nonmetallic inclusion in 18wt%Cr-8wt% Ni stainless steel and its properties during soaking process

The properties of MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based plasticized inclusion are likely to change during soaking process due to its low melting point. In this study, the evolution of the MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based inclusion of 18 wt%Cr-8 wt%Ni stainless steel under isothermal soaking process at 1250°C for different times was investigated by laboratory-scale experiments and thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that the inclusion population density increased at the first stage and then decreased while their average size first decreased and then increased. In addition, almost no Cr2O3-concentrated regions existed within the inclusion before soaking, but more and more Cr2O3 precipitates were formed during soaking. Furthermore, the plasticity of the inclusion deteriorated due to a decrease in the amount of liquid phase and an increase in the high-melting-pointphase MnO–Cr2O3 spinel after the soaking process. In-situ observations by high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) confirmed that liquid phases were produced in the inclusions and the inclusions grew rather quickly during the soaking process. Both the experimental results and thermodynamic analysis conclude that there are three routes for inclusion evolution during the soaking process. In particular, Ostwald ripening plays an important role in the inclusion evolution, i.e., MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based inclusions grow by absorbing the newly precipitated smaller-size MnO–Cr2O3 inclusions.

Physical and Mathematical Modeling of the Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Refining Process of Stainless Steel

The available studies in the literature on physical and mathematical modeling of the argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) process of stainless steel have briefly been reviewed. The latest advances made by the author with his research group have been summarized. Water modeling was used to investigate the fluid flow and mixing characteristics in the bath of an 18 t AOD vessel, as well as the 'back attack' action of gas jets and its effects on the erosion and wear of the refractory lining, with sufficiently full kinematic similarity. The non rotating and rotating gas jets blown through two annular tuyeres, respectively of straight tube and spiral flat tube type, were employed in the experiments. The geometric similarity ratio between the model and its prototype (including the straight tube type tuyeres) was 1:3. The influences of the gas flow rate, the angle included between the two tuyeres and other operating parameters, and the suitability of the spiral tuyere as a practical application, were examined. These latest studies have clearly and successfully brought to light the fluid flow and mixing characteristics in the bath and the overall features of the back attack phenomena of gas jets during the blowing, and have offered a better understanding of the refining process. Besides, mathematical modeling for the refining process of stainless steel was carried out and a new mathematical model of the process was proposed and developed. The model performs the rate calculations of the refining and the mass and heat balances of the system. Also, the effects of the operating factors, including adding the slag materials, crop ends, and scrap, and alloy agents; the non isothermal conditions; the changes in the amounts of metal and slag during the refining; and other factors were all considered. The model was used to deal with and analyze the austenitic stainless steel making (including ultra low carbon steel) and was tested on data of 32 heats obtained in producing 304 grade steel in an 18 t AOD vessel. The changes in the bath composition and temperature during the refining process with time can be accurately predicted using this model. The model can provide some very useful information and a reliable basis for optimizing the process practice of the refining of stainless steel and control of the process in real time and online.

Improving pulsed laser weldability of duplex stainless steel to 5456 aluminum alloy via friction stir process reinforcing of aluminum by BNi-2 brazing alloy

Effects of laser pulse distance and reinforcing of 5456 aluminum alloy were investigated on laser weldability of Al alloy to duplex stainless steel (DSS) plates. The aluminum alloy plate was reinforced by nickel-base BNi-2 brazing powder via friction stir processing. The DSS plates were laser welded to the Al5456/BNi-2 composite and also to the Al5456 alloy plates. The welding zones were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, micro-hardness and shear tests. The weld interface layer became thinner from 23 to 5 μm, as the laser pulse distance was increased from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. Reinforcing of the Al alloy modified the phases at interface layer from Al-Fe intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the DSS/Al alloy weld, to Al-Ni-Fe IMCs in the DSS/Al composite one, since more nickel was injected in the weld pool by BNi-2 reinforcements. This led to a remarkable reduction in crack tendency of the welds and decreased the hardness of the interface layer from ~950 HV to ~600 HV. Shear strengths of the DSS/Al composite welds were significantly increased by ~150%, from 46 to 114 MPa, in comparison to the DSS/Al alloy ones.

Processing map and dynamic recrystallization behaviours of 316LN-Mn austenitic stainless steel

The hot deformation behaviours of 316LN-Mn austenitic stainless steel were investigated by uniaxial isothermal compression tests at different temperatures and strain rates.The microstructural evolutions were also studied using electron backscatter diffraction.The flow stress decreases with the increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate.A constitutive equation was established to characterize the relationship among the deformation parameters,and the deformation activation energy was calculated to be 497.92 k J/mol.Processing maps were constructed to describe the appropriate processing window,and the optimum processing parameters were determined at a temperature of 1107-1160℃ and a strain rate of 0.005-0.026 s^(-1).Experimental results showed that the main nucleation mechanism is discontinuous dynamic recrystallization(DDRX),followed by continuous dynamic recrystallization(CDRX).In addition,the formation of twin boundaries facilitated the nucleation of dynamic recrystallization.

Laser Shock Processing of an Austenitic Stainless Steel and a Nickel-base Superalloy

An austenitic stainless steel 1Cr18Ni9Ti and a solid solution-strengthened Ni-base superalloy GH30 were shock processed using a Q-switched pulsed Nd-glass laser. Microstructure, hardness and residual stress of the laser shock processed surface were investigated as functions of laser processing parameters. Results show that high density of dislocations and fine deformation twins are produced in the laser shock processed surface layers in both the austenitic stainless steel and the nickel-base superalloy. Extensive strain-induced martensite was also observed in the laser shock processed zone of the austenitic steel. The hardness of the laser shock processed surface was significantly enhanced and compressive stress as high as 400 MPa was produced in the laser shock processed surface.

Finite element analysis of the end cutting process for U-section parts with high-strength steel

This paper presents a constitutive framework for finite element analysis of the truck beam end cutting process.For this purpose,a finite strain anisotropic elasto-plastic model,which takes nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening into account,is presented.Three factors are investigated to determine the effect on cutting quality:radius of cutting tools,strength of materials and relative clearance in cutting.The recommendations made herein are based on the simulation results.

Effect of Colouring Process on Pitting Susceptibility of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Colouring of the austenitic stainless steel alloy （20.45% Cr, 8.57% Ni） was carried out in NaNO3-KNO3 eutectic melt without and with additions of Na2O2, NaCl and their mixtures at different temperatures ranging from 400-600℃, under open-circuit and galvanostatic anodic polarization conditions. The produced colours greatly depend on the thickness of oxide films, which in turn depends on the composition of the molten bath and its temperature. The more attractive, bright, adherent and uniform coloured oxide films can be obtained at 400, 450 and 500℃ in molten nitrate bath containing NaCl and Na2O2 mixtures. The pitting corrosion susceptibility of the coloured oxide films was tested in FeCl3 and NaCl as corrosive media. The obtained results indicate that the pitting corrosion susceptibility of the coloured oxide films greatly depends on the previous operating conditions of the colouring process of the stainless steel specimens such as the composition of molten bath, temperature and technique of colouring process.

Processing maps and hot working mechanisms of supercritical martensitic stainless steel

The hot working mechanism of 2Cr11 MolVNbN steel was investigated by means of compression tests at temperatures of900-1150 ℃ and strain rates of 0.005-5 s^(-1).At strains of 0.2,0.3,0.5 and 0.7,the relationship among strain rate sensitivity,power dissipation efficiency and instability parameter under different conditions were studied.Power dissipation maps and instability maps at different strains were established.The optimal and the instable deformation regimes were established by the processing maps based on the dynamic material model.The processing maps were developed for the typical strains of 0.2,0.3,0.5 and 0.7,predicting the instability regions occurring at high strain rate more than 0.05 s^(-1),which should be avoided during hot deformation.The optimized processing parameters for hot working of 2CrllMolVNbN supercritical stainless steel were temperatures of 1080-1120 ℃ and strain rates of 0.005-0.01 s^(-1).

Effect of hot-band annealing process on microstructure,texture,and r-value of final sheets of ferritic stainless steel

In this paper,the effect of different annealing processes on the microstructure,texture,and formability of ferritic stainless steel was studied in detail.The results showed that the grain size in the final sheet was larger and the recrystallization texture was more uniform after the final recrystallization annealing of hot-rolled steel with continuous annealing than that without annealing or with batch annealing.In addition,the final sheet had a higher average r-value and the lowest planar anisotropy.

Influence of cold deformation on microstructure,mechanical properties,and corrosion resistance of high-sulfur free-cutting 316LS stainless steel

In this study,the influence of plastic deformation produced by cold rolling at reduction ratios ranging from 10% to 80% on the microstructure,mechanical properties,and pitting corrosion behavior of high-sulfur freecutting 316 LS austenitic stainless steel was investigated. The results indicate that slipping is the predominant effect and that sulfide inclusions extend along the rolling direction during the cold deformation of 316 LS. The strong austenite stability of 316 LS results in the formation of only a small quantity of deformation-induced martensite. The experimental results reveal that the strength,hardness,and yield ratio increased with increases in the reduction ratio,mainly due to work hardening,whereas the elongation decreased drastically,due to the combined effect of the work hardening and brittleness caused by the numerous sulfide inclusions. Electrochemically active sites on the surface of316 LS increased with an increased reduction ratio,which caused an increased current fluctuation in the passive zone. This also caused the breakdown potential（ E_b） near the pitting zone to exhibit a gradual increase in the zigzag current shift to the left on the polarization curves. The E_b of 316 LS decreased with increases in the reduction ratio,mainly due to the extended sulfide inclusions,the increased dislocation density,and the deformation-induced martensite content.

Processing and mechanical properties of porous 316L stainless steel for biomedical applications

Highly porous 316L stainless steel parts were produced by using a powder metallurgy process, which includes the selective laser sintering(SLS) and traditional sintering. Porous 316L stainless steel suitable for medical applications was successfully fabricated in the porosity range of 40%-50% (volume fraction) by controlling the SLS parameters and sintering behaviour. The porosity of the sintered compacts was investigated as a function of the SLS parameters and the furnace cycle. Compressive stress and elastic modulus of the 316L stainless steel material were determined. The compressive strength was found to be ranging from 21 to 32 MPa and corresponding elastic modulus ranging from 26 to 43 GPa. The present parts are promising for biomedical applications since the optimal porosity of implant materials for ingrowths of new-bone tissues is in the range of 20%-59% (volume fraction) and mechanical properties are matching with human bone.

The Phenomenon of High Hardness Values on the S-Phase Layer of Austenitic Stainless Steel via Screen Plasma Nitriding Process

The purpose of this study is to improve the surface properties of austenitic stainless steel using the double-folded electrode screen plasma nitriding (SPN) process. In general, the S-phase is well-known for its excellent properties such as improved hardness and wear resistance along with sustained corrosion resistance. The concentrated nitrogen via SPN process was injected to form S-phase with time at 713 K. This study was carried out under the conditions of 44 at% of nitrogen injection, which was higher than 25 at% known as the condition of no precipitation of S-phase formed by the SPN process, and 20 K higher than the maximum temperature without precipitation phase. The hardness analysis of stainless steel sample treated by the SPN process at 713 K showed a much higher value than the typical nitriding hardness at a depth of lower nitrogen than the maximum nitrogen concentration. The SPN 20 hr treated specimen showed the average value of 2339 HV while 40 hr showed the average value of 2215 HV. The result is attributed to the concentrated nitrogen formed in the SPN process reacting with the alloying elements contained in the base material to form fine precipitates, thus producing a synergy effect of the extreme hardening effect;that is, the movement of precipitates and dislocations due to the GP-zone (Guinier-Preston zone).

Tensile and wear properties of TiC reinforced 420 stainless steel fabricated by in situ synthesis

TiC particle reinforced 420 stainless steel matrix composites were fabricated, and the microstructure, tensile properties and wear resistance of the composites were studied. The experimental results indicate that the distribution of TiC particles with size of 5 to 10 μm in diameter is uniform if the volume fraction of TiC is lower than 6%. However, slight agglomeration can be observed when the TiC content exceeds 6%. With the increase of TiC content the tensile and yield strength of the composites prepared increases and reaches the maximum when the volume fraction of TiC increases to 5%. Further increase of TiC content causes reductions of yield and tensile strength. The ductility of the composites shows a monotone decrease with the increase of TiC addition. The introduction of TiC into 420 stainless steel results in significant improvement on wear resistance, which reaches a steady level when the volume fraction of TiC increases to 11% and does not show obvious variation if the TiC content is further increased.

Extrusion process of 304L H-shaped stainless steel used in passive residual heat removal heat exchanger

304L H-shaped stainless steel is used as the support frame of the passive residual heat removal heat exchanger(PRHR HX) in a nuclear fission reactor. The extrusion process is adopted to manufacture the 304L H-shaped stainless steel. Finite element method simulation is herein used to analyze metal flow characteristics, optimize the extrusion die, and predict the extrusion force at different temperatures and speeds. A Φ400-mm container and Φ388-mm forging billet are selected, and the 304L H-shaped stainless steel is successfully manufactured using a Germany SMS 60 MN horizontal extruder. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the manufactured 304L H-shaped stainless steel meet the requirements of the PRHR HX, and the surfaces of the product pass the dye penetration test. The H-shaped stainless steels are used in Haiyang nuclear power plant in Shandong Province.

Study on the Role of Supersonic Nozzle in Fiber Laser Cutting of Stainless Steel

Striation-free laser cutting, especially for thick section steel, is hard to obtain due to several factors. The inside shape of the gas nozzle is considered to be one of the most vital factors in striation-free fiber laser cutting. 0.8 mm normal nozzle and a supersonic nozzle are used to cut 0.8 mm AISI316L stainless steel (022Cr17Ni12Mo2) separately. The orthogonal experiment takes nozzle standoff distance, cutting speed, Laser power and gas pressure as its impacting factors. The same orthogonal table is adopted in different condition, using normal nozzle and using supersonic nozzle. In the mean time, Ar gas is used as assisted cutting gas in the experiment. The data from this experiment show that supersonic nozzle seems to be a strong helper for fiber laser cutting. Feed rate’s effect seems stable and inconspicuous under the condition of using supersonic nozzle.

Wave Processes and Mass Transfer on the Copper-Stainless Steel Interface under Solid Phase Bonding by High-Temperature Rolling

The paper presents the study of hierarchy of deformation wave-processes from nano- to macro-structural level, which takes place in dissimilar materials, bonded by high-temperature vacuum rolling in solid phase. The focus was on the processes that occur on the interface of the bonded materials: mass trasfer of impurities and alloying elements stimulated by deformation, the study of nano- and micro-hardness.

Strain hardening behavior, strain rate sensitivity and hot deformation maps of AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel

Hot compression tests were performed on AISI 321 austenitic stainless steel in the deformation temperature range of 800–1200℃ and constant strain rates of 0.001,0.01,0.1,and 1 s^(−1).Hot flow curves were used to determine the strain hardening exponent and the strain rate sensitivity exponent,and to construct the processing maps.Variations of the strain hardening exponent with strain were used to predict the microstructural evolutions during the hot deformation.Four variations were distinguished reflecting the different microstructural changes.Based on the analysis of the strain hardening exponent versus strain curves,the microstructural evolutions were dynamic recovery,single and multiple peak dynamic recrystallization,and interactions between dynamic recrystallization and precipitation.The strain rate sensitivity variations at an applied strain of 0.8 and strain rate of 0.1 s^(−1) were compared with the microstructural evolutions.The results demonstrate the existence of a reliable correlation between the strain rate sensitivity values and evolved microstructures.Additionally,the power dissipation map at the applied strain of 0.8 was compared with the resultant microstructures at predetermined deformation conditions.The microstructural evolutions strongly correlated to the power dissipation ratio,and dynamic recrystallization occurred completely at lower power dissipation ratios.

Study of Pitting Morphology Fractal Characteristic of Corroded Surface of 304 Stainless Steel in FeCl_3 Environment

Experiments were performed to study the pitting corrosion morphology of 304 stainless steel exposed to FeCl 3 environments and SEM micrographs of the pitting corrosion morphology were obtained. The image processing technique combining with the fractal method was employed to analyze these pitting corrosion images and the self-similarity of pits morphology was observed. It indicates that fractal characteristics exist in pitting corrosion of 304 stainless steel. The self-similarity and complexity of the pitting morphology phenomenon were described in terms of fractal dimension which can also be an important parameter related to characterize pitting morphology qualitatively and quantitatively.