Effect of PWHT on Laser-Welded Duplex Stainless Steel

Abstract

The welded joints of duplex stainless steels (DSSs) have been widely used in petrochemical, nuclear, pulp, and paper industries. Welds require a good, superficial finishing and a combination of mechanical and corrosion properties in these types of high-quality, demanding applications. Even though laser welding promotes narrow weld beads and a small heat-affected zone, when it is applied to DSSs, it can produce dangerous microstructural discontinuities. In this context, the effects of subsequent heat treatments on the microstructure, corrosion resistance, microhardness, and tensile proper-ties of DSS laser-welded joints are investigated. In this study, samples of UNS S32304 DSS were submitted to two different conditions of laser welding. Subsequently, the plates submitted to the best welding condition were subjected to isothermal heat treatments at different temperatures (850°, 950°, 1050°, and 1150°C) for 10 min. Then they were microstructurally characterized. Phase fraction measurements and microhardness tests were performed. Based on the obtained results, postweld heat-treated samples at 1150°C, which is the best condition, were subjected to corrosion and tensile tests. It was possible to conclude the corrosion prop-erties of the welded joint were significantly improved after the heat treatment. However, the mechanical behavior was strongly influenced by the presence of volumetric discontinuities and intermetallic compounds, which considerably deteriorated the mechanical strength of the material.