The Effect of a Slow Strain Rate on the Stress Corrosion Resistance of Austenitic Stainless Steel Produced by the Wire Laser Additive Manufacturing Process

The wire laser additive manufacturing (WLAM) process is considered a direct-energy deposition method that aims at addressing the need to produce large components having relatively simple geometrics at an affordable cost. This additive manufacturing (AM) process uses wires as raw materials instead of powders and is capable of reaching a deposition rate of up to 3 kg/h, compared with only 0.1 kg/h with common powder bed fusion (PBF) processes. Despite the attractiveness of the WLAM process, there has been only limited research on this technique. In particular, the stress corrosion properties of components produced by this technology have not been the subject of much study. The current study aims at evaluating the effect of a slow strain rate on the stress corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel produced by the WLAM process in comparison with its counterpart: AISI 316L alloy. Microstructure examination was carried out using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis, while the mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile strength and hardness measurements. The general corrosion resistance was examined by potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy analysis, while the stress corrosion performance was assessed by slow strain rate testing (SSRT) in a 3.5% NaCl solution at ambient temperature. The attained results highlight the inferior mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and stress corrosion performance, especially at a slow strain rate, of the WLAM samples compared with the regular AISI 316L alloy. The differences between the WLAM alloy and AISI 316L alloy were mainly attributed to their dissimilarities in terms of phase compositions, structural morphology and inherent defects.

Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Process: Properties, Characterization, and Applications

Ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) is a novel surface severe plastic deformation (SPD) method that integrates ultrasonic impact peening (UIP) and deep rolling (DR) to enhance the surface integrity and surface mechanical properties of engineering materials. USRP can induce gradient nanostructured surface (GNS) layers on the substrate, providing superior mechanical properties, thus preventing premature material failure. Herein, a comprehensive overview of current-state-of-the art USRP is provided. More specifically, the effect of the USRP on a broad range of materials exclusively used for aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and chemical industries is explained. Furthermore, the effect of USRP on different mechanical properties, such as hardness, tensile, fatigue, wear resistance, residual stress, corrosion resistance, and surface roughness are summarized. In addition, the effect of USRP on grain refinement and the formation of gradient microstructure is discussed. Finally, this study elucidates the application and recent advances of the USRP process.

Develop a sustainable welding procedure for chromium manganese austenitic stainless steel using the ATIG process

Chromium manganese austenitic stainless steel is exhibiting an admirable amalgamation of higher strength and stress corrosion resistance. This economical steel is developed to fulfill the requirement of a variety of consumers for high temperature and structural applications. Hitherto, the limitation associate with the TIG welding process is a low depth of penetration which reduces productivity. Activated tungsten inert gas welding (ATIG) is the best suitable option to overcome this problem and satisfy the sustainable welding requirement. Welding procedure has been developed for chromium manganese austenitic stainless steel during ATIG welding using a box behken design (BBD) to improve penetration depth and productivity. The activated flux using SiO2 and TiO2 flux indicates improvement in penetration 5.3 mm and 5.1 mm as compared to TIG welding. The ATIG welded test coupon has strength and hardness of 495 MPa and 195 HV when using SiO2 flux, and 487 MPa and 190 HV when using TiO2 flux, compared to 435 MPa and 165HV for the TIG welded test coupon. ATIG welds have higher strength and hardness because of their finer grain size when compared to TIG welded test coupons.

Investigation on the Stress Relaxation Aging Behavior of 2195 Al-Li Alloy

2195 Al-Li alloy is famous for high strength, excellent fatigue strength and good stress corrosion resistance, which is widely used in the manufacture of high-performance aerospace components. The aim of this study is to validate how the stress relaxation aging behavior effect on the mechanical properties of 2195 Al-Li alloy. Through mechanical property test, the research was found that the performance after stress relaxation aging is higher than artificial aging (AA). In addition, the analysis of scanning electron microscopy SEM and TEM revealed that dislocations should be introduced by the stress relaxation aging process, which is more conducive to the precipitation of the T1 phase and strengthened the material with prolong ageing time. The results show that stress relaxation aging can significantly promote the precipitation of the T1. Therefore, this paper sheds new light on how SRA can improve mechanical properties and that SRA make better improve the distribution of precipitates in the grain boundary.

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) of AW 5083 and AW 5059 Aluminium Alloys

Friction stir welding (FSW) joints of AW 5083 and AW 5059 alloys were used for the study. Mechanical properties, resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) were investigated and metallographic tests were performed using an optical and scanning microscope (SEM). The parameters of friction welding are also given. Stress corrosion was investigated by the method of slow strain rate testing (SSRT) in air and 4.5% NaCl aqueous solution. During SCC tests elongation, strength, fracture energy and time to break were measured. Very good strength of the tested alloys was found with good resistance to stress corrosion cracking. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of using the AW 5059 and AW 5083 friction welded (FSW) alloys in marine structures, using stress corrosion resistance as a criterion

Effect of Secondary Aging Process on the Structure and Properties of 7050 Aluminum Alloy Forging

The effect of the second-stage aging process on the tensile properties, fracture toughness and electrical conductivity of 7050 aluminum alloy die forgings was studied, and the mechanism of strengthening and toughening was analyzed by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that with the extension of the second-stage aging time, the morphology of the precipitation phase remains unchanged, but the average radius of the precipitation phase and the distance between each other gradually increase. The fracture modes at this aging temperature are mixed fracture mechanisms of dimple fracture and intergranular fracture, and the number of dimple fractures increases with time. With the extension of the second-stage aging time, the strength of the alloy decreases, and the fracture toughness and stress corrosion resistance increase. The alloys heat-treated at 120°C×6 h +177°C×6~8 h two-stage aging process have excellent comprehensive properties.

Stress corrosion resistance of welded joints of low-alloy pipe steel produced by high frequency welding

The paper presents the results of stress corrosion resistance studies of welded joints of low-alloy steel 17G1SU, obtained by high-frequency welding (HFW). The potentiometry method has established that the welded joint in the state after welding and after linear heat treatment is resistant to corrosion, because the potential difference between the weld and the base metal does not exceed (30-50) mV. According to the results of accelerated corrosion-mechanical tests in 3% NaCl under conditions of constant load under different stress, it was found that the rate of uniform corrosion of both types of welded joints is almost the same as the base metal. Slightly higher corrosion rate of the welded junction after linear heat treatment correlates with the electrochemical data. In general, the welded joint, made according to the factory technology, has resistance to corrosion and mechanical destruction in a solution of 3% NaCl at the level of the base metal, in the absence of weld defects. In the range of protective polarization potentials normalized by the standard of Ukraine, the ratio of the cathodic protection current to the diffusion current limit for the base metal and for the weld metal practically does not differ. It can be expected that under the conditions of cathodic protection, the predominant local flooding of the weld metal or the parent metal is not expected.

Stress corrosion behavior of narrow-gap rotating laser welding of thick Al-Mg alloy joint

The stress corrosion resistance of 30 mm-thick narrow-gap rotating laser welding (NG-RLW) 5A06 aluminum (Al) joint was investigated by slow strain rate testing (SSRT). The results show that the average ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the joints in 3.5% NaCl solution is about 11% lower than that in air, and its elongation is only half of that in air. The stress corrosion index [Formula: see text] of the joint is [Formula: see text], which is at the middle level of the range of [Formula: see text]. Moreover, the failure positions of the SSRT specimens in air are weld metal (WM), while the failure positions in the corrosive medium are base metal (BM). This indicates that the stress corrosion resistance of BM is slightly lower than that of WM due to the different microstructures. Many dimples are formed on the fracture surface of the specimen in air, which is a typical ductile fracture. But the fracture surface shows the characteristics of ductile and brittle mixture with obvious corrosion products. This result indicates that the NG-RLW 5A06 Al joint has a tendency to brittle fracture in 3.5% NaCl solution.