A comparative evaluation of gas tungsten and shielded metal arc welds of a "ferritic" stainless steel

The effect of welding process shielding gas and the addition of gain refining elements on the weld zone tensile properties of a ferritic stainless steel conforming to AISI 430 has been investigated. Cas tungsten are welds exhibiting equi-axed grain morphology had superior tensile and yield strength compared to shielded metal are welds. The tensile ductility of gas tungsten are welds was also on an average marginally greater than that of shielded metal are welds. Welds in general showed low ductility compared to that of the base metal. The addition of titanium and copper led to improved strength over that of the base alloy. The observed properties could be correlated to the austenite content and the fracture morphology. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.