Effect of E6010 and E8018-G Fluxes Utilization on SMAW Multi-Pass Welded Steel

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the influence of the E6010 and E8018-G fluxes on the chemical composition, microstructure, formation of inclusions and micro hardness in different passes (P1, P2 and P3) of X42 welded steel. The marketed chemical composition of used fluxes is: E6010 and E8018-G, which have a low carbon electrodes. The fusion zone microstructure consists of acicular ferrite. The fluxes (FA and FC) have the high TiO2 and SiO2 contents respectively. The high content of Ti and Si, was also detected in the melted zones (P1 ,P2 and P3). The MnO2 oxide proportion in the fluxes (E6010, and E8018-G) is constant (0.94-0.99). However, the Mn content increases in the melted zones (P3 and P1). The highest percentages of Si and Mn was detected in the outer and inner passes respectively of melted zone, relatively to the base metal. The variation of the elements mass concentrations (Mn, Cr, Si and Ti) shows a contradictory variation on the three points in the melted zone passes (P1 and P3). White and black non-metallic inclusions are observed regardless the used flux. The micro-hardness in the multi-pass melting zone with the fluxes (E6010 and E8018-G) varies according to the variation of the equivalent carbon in the different filler metals.