SCC behaviour of laser and hybrid laser welded stainless steel weld joints

Abstract

In this study, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance was evaluated for type 316LN stainless steel weld joints fabricated by advanced welding techniques such as Laser, Hybrid Laser – Tungsten inert gas (HLT) and Hybrid Laser – Metal inert gas (HLM) welding. 316 LN stainless steel base metal exhibited significantly better resistance to SCC. The solidification mode, secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS) and tensile residual stress distribution in the weld metal was found to strongly influence SCC resistance of 316LN stainless steel weld joints. The weld joint processed by HLM process exhibited the highest time to failure during SCC testing and hence better SCC resistance due to primary ferritic mode of solidification, finer SDAS and lower width of tensile residual stress distribution.

KEYWORDS:

• 316LN stainless steel
• welding
• stress corrosion cracking

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).