Effect of Thermal Cycle on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Duplex Stainless Steel SAF 2205 Electron Beam Welded Joint

Abstract

It is known that heat treatment (HT) highly affects the properties of base metal (BM) and fusion zones (FZ) of duplex stainless steel (DSS). In fact, it may give unwanted structure changes. Duplex stainless steels SAF 2205 welded joint was subjected to thermal cycle at temperature of 850◦C at holding times 1, 3, 5 and 7 hours. The influence of heating cycles and concentration of corrosive medium on the corrosion properties and microstructure of 2205 alloy was the objective of this work. It was found that process led to noticeable decrease in the corrosion resistance of BM and FZ specimens; moreover the decrease was large in BM than FZ. It was also found that sigma phase (σ) precipitated in the different zones of the structure. σ phase volume fraction was found to increase with increasing the holding time of HT, and its increase is larger in BM. Corrosion resistance was found to be oppositely related to σ phase formation. Secondary austenite phase (γ2) was also precipitated and its volume fraction in FZ was found to increase with increasing the holding time of HT and decreased in BM.