Study on the Hot Cracking Law of Inconel 690/52M Welding Material on F304LN Base Metal by Multi-Layer Cladding

During the welding of 690 nickel-based alloy, solidification cracking (SFC) and ductility-dip cracking (DDC) easily forms, which has a negative effect on the quality of welded joints and service life. The present study examined the effects of welding heat input and cladding layers on the SFC and DDC, as well as their formation mechanism. The microstructure observation, elemental distribution, and Varestraint test were carried out. The results show that SFC and DDC were formed for the Inconel filler metal 52M, and SFC is more prone to form than DDC. The alloy elements such as Fe, Si, C, and P from base metal can expand the solidification temperature range, such that the SFC sensitivity increases. With the increase of welding heat input, the grain size of cladding metal is increased with a great SFC sensitivity. The increasing welding heat input also makes DDC possible due to the formation of a large angle grain boundary.

Evaluation and Control of Liquation Cracking Susceptibility for CM247LC Superalloy Weld Heat-Affected Zone via Visualization-Based Varestraint Test

The metallurgical aspects of weld cracking in Ni-based superalloys remain relatively unexplored in existing research. The present study performed comprehensive metallurgical and manufactural investigations into the weldability of an Ni-based superalloy, CM247LC, from the viewpoint of the liquation cracking behavior and its susceptibility. Metallurgical solutions to suppress the liquation-cracking susceptibility were derived via the visualization-based Varestraint test, and the possibility of liquation crack-free welding was explored by employing pre-weld heat treatments and laser beam welding. The alloy that was subjected to aging treatment exhibited the lowest liquation-cracking susceptibility (liquation cracking temperature range: 66 K), while the as-cast alloy specimen exhibited the highest liquation-cracking susceptibility (liquation cracking temperature range: 620 K). The metallurgical mechanisms of the liquation cracking susceptibility of as-cast CM247LC weld were elucidated via microstructural analyses and thermodynamic calculations. The suppressed liquation cracking susceptibility of the aged CM247LC can be attributed to the MC-type carbide fraction and homogenized matrix phase, as compared with those of as-cast CM247LC. The aged CM247LC specimen was subjected to gas tungsten arc welding to validate its minimal liquation-cracking susceptibility. The results confirmed the suppression of liquation cracking, due to the low susceptibility of the specimen. However, crackfree welds could not be obtained. Finally, metallurgically sound welds without liquation cracks were successfully obtained via laser beam welding. The outcomes of the present study will facilitate the generation of electric power from fossil fuels via a clean and efficient gas turbine-based power generation cycle.

Quantitative evaluation of augmented strain at the weld metal during the Trans-Varestraint test

The hot cracking susceptibility in the Trans-Varestraint test was evaluated using the nominal strain calculated using the curvature radius of a bending block and the thickness of a specimen based on the theory of material mechanics. The nominal strain was calculated using the material properties at room temperature. Thus, in the Trans-Varestraint test, the non-uniformity of the strain around the weld part due to the temperature distribution is not considered. Therefore, the strain in the Trans-Varestraint test cannot be evaluated correctly. The aim of this study is to reveal the loaded strain at the weld metal to understand the evaluation of hot cracking susceptibility in the Trans-Varestraint test. The loaded strain around the trailing edge of the weld pool of pure iron was measured in-situ using a high-speed camera and high-resolution optical lens. The results of strains measured using image analysis and the finite-element method at the center of the weld bead were compared. Accordingly, it was clarified that the strain was concentrated on the weld part owing to the bending occurring along the weld line, and the strain exceeding the nominal strain was loaded to the trailing edge of the weld pool.

Effect of Cladding Conditions on Solidification Cracking Behavior during Dissimilar Cladding of Inconel Alloy FM 52 and 308L Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel: Evaluation of Solidification Brittle Temperature Range by Transverse−Varestraint Test

In this study, solidification cracking behavior and susceptibility in dissimilar cladding of Inconel alloy FM 52, 308L stainless steel to carbon steel, was investigated by submerged arc welding and transverse−Varestraint testing with gas tungsten arc welding. The effect of cladding conditions on cracking behavior and susceptibility was extensively evaluated, and metallurgical factors affecting susceptibility were clarified. Depending on the cladding sequence (cladding combination A: Inconel 52→308L, cladding combination B: 308L→Inconel 52), opposite types of solidification cracking behavior were observed. Specifically, solidification cracking was observed only for cladding combination A. Using transverse−Varestraint tests, the solidification brittle temperature range (BTR) was determined to be 298 K for cladding combination A and 200 K for cladding combination B. The reason for solidification cracking in cladding combination A could be its higher solidification susceptibility (i.e., a larger BTR (298 K)) compared with cladding combination B (BTR: 200 K). To elucidate differences in solidification cracking susceptibility, a numerical simulation of non−equilibrium solidification segregation for impurity elements (P, S) was performed, based on velocity dependent solidification theories and the finite differential method. Different segregation behaviors were calculated upon the cladding combinations. The severe segregation of P and S during solidification was found to be one of the important metallurgical factors for the large BTR of cladding combination A, compared with cladding combination B.

Comparison of Hot Cracking Susceptibility of TIG and Laser Beam Welded Alloy 718 by Varestraint Testing

Reduced hot cracking susceptibility is essential to ensure the flawless manufacturing of nickel superalloys typically employed in welded aircraft engine structures. The hot cracking of precipitation strengthened alloy 718 mainly depends on chemical composition and microstructure resulting from the thermal story. Alloy 718 is usually welded in a solution annealed state. However, even with this thermal treatment, cracks can be induced during standard industrial manufacturing conditions, leading to costly and time-consuming reworking. In this work, the cracking susceptibility of wrought and investment casting alloy 718 is studied by the Varestraint test. The test is performed while applying different welding conditions, i.e., continuous tungsten inert gas (TIG), low frequency pulsed TIG, continuous laser beam welding (LBW) and pulsed LBW. Welding parameters are selected for each welding technology in order to meet the welding quality criteria requested for targeted aeronautical applications, that is, full penetration, minimum cross-sectional welding width and reduced overhang and underfill. Results show that the hot cracking susceptibility of LBW samples determined by the Varestraint test is enhanced due to extended center line hot cracking, resulting in a fish-bone like cracking pattern. On the contrary, the minor effect of material source (wrought or casting), grain size and pulsation is observed. In fact, casting samples with a 30 times coarser grain size have shown better performance than wrought material.

Studies on Susceptibility of Alloy 617 to Solidification Cracking

Ni based super alloy 617 is widely used in transition liners in both aircraft and land-based gas turbines, power plant applications because of its high temperature strength, oxidation resistance and creep properties. Ni based alloys are highly susceptible to hot cracking like solidification and liquation racking issues. In this present work, the susceptibility of alloy 617 to solidification cracking is studied based on the varestraint test. Results of this weldability test proved that in addition to the solidification cracking susceptibility alloy 617 is prone to liquation cracking also. Keywords: Varestraint test, Alloy 617, Solidification cracking, Liquidation cracking.