Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of an autogenous single pass electron beam weld in thick gage CA6NM steel

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

CA6NM is a low carbon martensitic stainless steel that is widely applied in hydroelectric turbine manufacturing. Using conventional fusion welding techniques, the fabrication of a thick section in CA6NM requires a V-groove joint design and multiple passes to achieve the required penetration. However, exposure to a substantial heat input through this process renders large fusion and heat-affected zones, microstructural variations, as well as distortion of the assembly, which pose difficulties for the manufacture and performance of the component. The application of a high energy density technique, namely electron beam (EB) welding, was used in the present work to penetrate a 60-mm-thick section in CA6NM with a single pass without filler metal. To prevent cracking in the weldment, the CA6NM was heated to 100–170 °C before EB welding using a zonal preheat treatment, which was applied in situ using a defocused beam. The as-welded CA6NM exhibited a narrow fusion zone (FZ) and a series of distinct yet very small heat-affected zones (HAZ) with different microstructural characteristics. As compared to the base metal (BM) hardness of 289 ± 4 HV, the EB weldment exhibited a hardness maximum of 425 HV in the HAZs and an average hardness of 395 ± 6 HV in the FZ. Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was effective in lowering the hardness in the FZ of the EB weldment to a mean value of 346 ± 13 HV.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Moomow W, Yamba F, Kamimoto M, Maurice L, Nyboer J, Urama K, Weir T (2011) IPCC special report on renewable energy sources and climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press, UK

    Google Scholar 

  2. Meleka AH (1971) Electron beam welding: principles and practice. McGraw-Hill, London

    Google Scholar 

  3. Handbook M (1993) Welding, brazing and soldering, vol. 6. ASM International, Materials Park, OH

    Google Scholar 

  4. Schultz H (1994) Electron beam welding. Elsevier, UK

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. ASTM A 743/A 743M (2006) Standard specification for castings, iron-chromium, iron-chromium-nickel, corrosion resistant, for general application, West Conshohocken, PA

  6. Handbook (2004) Steel castings handbook supplement 8: high alloys data sheets, corrosion series. Steel Founders' Society of America, USA

    Google Scholar 

  7. ASTM A 487/A 487–93 (2012) Standard specification for castings suitable for pressure service, corrosion resistant, for general application, West Conshohocken, PA

  8. Côté M (2007) Étude des Cinétiques de Transformation de Phase d'un Acier Inoxydable Martensitique 13% Cr-4% Ni. École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  9. Thibault D, Bocher P, Thomas M (2009) Residual stress and microstructure in welds of 13% Cr–4% Ni martensitic stainless steel. J Mater Process Technol 209(4):2195–2202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Carrouge D, Bhadeshia H, Woollin P (2004) Effect of δ-ferrite on impact properties of supermartensitic stainless steel heat affected zones. Sci Technol Weld Join 9(5):377–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Enerhaug J, Steinsmo U (2001) Factors affecting initiation of pitting corrosion in super martensitic stainless steel weldments. Sci Technol Weld Join 6(5):330–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bilmes P, Solari M, Llorente C (2001) Characteristics and effects of austenite resulting from tempering of 13Cr–NiMo martensitic steel weld metals. Mater Charact 46(4):285–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Thibault D, Bocher P, Thomas M, Lanteigne J, Hovington P, Robichaud P (2011) Reformed austenite transformation during fatigue crack propagation of 13% Cr–4% Ni stainless steel. Mater Sci Eng A 528(21):6519–6526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bakunov A, Muzhitskii V (2004) The control of the magnetisation of components prior to welding operations. Weld Int 18(6):498–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. UK Defence Standardization 02-855/2:2010 (2010) Electron beam welding of marine components. Ministry of Defence, UK

  16. Schoefer EA (2004) Steel castings handbook supplement 7: welding of high alloy castings. Steel Founders' Society of America, USA

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chen F, Huo L, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Liu F, Chen G (2002) Effects of electron beam local post-weld heat-treatment on the microstructure and properties of 30CrMnSiNi2A steel welded joints. J Mater Process Technol 129(1):412–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wanjara P, Jahazi M (2008) Characterization of electron beam welded 17–4 PH stainless steel. Can Metall Q 47(4):413–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Young R (1993) Introduction to the Rietveld method. Rietveld Method 5:1–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. S. Sarafan, Wanjara P, Champliaud H, Mathieu L, Lanteigne J (2013) Characteristics of electron beam welded CA6NM. Proc Mater Sci Technol, 720–732, Canada

  21. Arata Y, Matsuda F, Nakata K (1972) Quench hardening and cracking in electron beam weld metal of carbon and low alloy hardenable steels. Trans JWRI 1(1):39–51

    Google Scholar 

  22. Srivastava BK, Tewari S, Prakash J (2010) A review on effect of preheating and/or post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on mechanical behaviour of ferrous metals. Int J Eng Sci Technol 2(4):625–631

    Google Scholar 

  23. Song Y, Li X, Rong L, Li Y (2010) Anomalous phase transformation from martensite to austenite in Fe-13% Cr-4% Ni-Mo martensitic stainless steel. J Mater Sci Technol 26(9):823–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Folkhard E, Rabensteiner G (1988) Welding metallurgy of stainless steels. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. Lippold JC, Kotecki DJ (2005) Welding metallurgy and weldability of stainless steels, vol 1. pp. 376. ISBN 0-471-47379-0. Wiley-VCH, March 2005

  26. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes (2007) Section VIII, division 1, rules for construction of pressure vessels. ASME, New York

    Google Scholar 

  27. Song Y, Li X, Rong L, Ping D, Yin F, Li Y (2010) Formation of the reversed austenite during intercritical tempering in a Fe–13 % Cr–4 % Ni–Mo martensitic stainless steel. Mater Lett 64(13):1411–1414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Arata Y, Tomie M, Kohyama A (1976) 100KW class electron beam welding technology (report III): characteristics of deep penetration bead and its analysis. Trans JWRI 5(1):11–18

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wu Y, Blaine D, Schlaefer C, Marx B, German RM (2002) Sintering densification and microstructural evolution of injection molding grade 17–4 PH stainless steel powder. Metall Mater Trans A 33(7):2185–2194

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada

    S. Sarafan & H. Champliaud

  2. National Research Council of Canada, Aerospace, Montréal, QC, H3T 2B2, Canada

    S. Sarafan & P. Wanjara

  3. Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ), Varennes, QC, J3X 1S1, Canada

    D. Thibault

Authors
  1. S. Sarafan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Wanjara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Champliaud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Thibault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Sarafan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sarafan, S., Wanjara, P., Champliaud, H. et al. Characteristics of an autogenous single pass electron beam weld in thick gage CA6NM steel. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 78, 1523–1535 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6713-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6713-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation