Journal of Welding Science

Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is one of the modern methods of fabrication parts by arc welding under shielding gas. In this research, the thin-wall of austenitic stainless steel 316L was fabricated via WAAM based on inter-pulse current; accordingly, a thin-wall was fabricated in 25-layers using two different strategies with a reciprocating torch movement pattern. Considering the equivalent chromium and nickel content in the Scheffler diagram, it was predicted that the microstructure solidification was done in the austenitic-ferritic (AF) state. Microstructural examination by optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of austenite matrix phase alongside ferrite dendrites (about 5%). The tensile test results showed that samples extracted in the vertical direction with an average tensile strength of 454 MPa had about 12% higher strain rates than horizontal samples with a tensile strength of 436 MPa. Also, examination of fine and coarse indentations on the fracture surface of tensile test specimens by scanning electron microscopy showed that the fracture of the specimens was of the ductile type. The hardness of the fabricated thin-wall was measured in the range of 200 to 265 Vickers with an average of 234 Vickers.

Welding is one of the methods of surface repair of cast irons. In this study, surface repair of gray cast iron was first performed by gas metal arc welding method with ER70S-6 welding wire under inter-pulse current, heat input of 393 J/mm and dilution of 17%. Also, to compare the results, two samples were welded with ENi-CI and E6013 covered electrodes. Microstructural studies showed that the microstructure of the interface of the sample is composed of martensite with fine lathes and upper bainite. Despite the presence of cementite (Fe₃C) next to alpha iron (α-Fe) in the interface area, the formation of incomplete mixing zone with bainite lathes in the ferrite zone has led to increased toughness and prevented crack formation. The hardness of the ER70S-6 sample was similar to that of the E6013 sample at the interface, at about 809 Vickers, which is 334 Vickers higher than the hardness of the ENi-CI sample. The results of the open circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the ER70-CI sample, with a corrosion potential and current of -653 mV and 6.8 μA/cm², had a higher polarization resistance and was more resistant to galvanic corrosion than the ENi-CI sample (-622 mV and 8.9 μA/cm²).