Caracterização microestrutural de duas juntas soldadas em aço ASTM A743 CA6NM por processo TIG

Abstract

Hydraulic turbines used in hydroelectric plants may present wear by cavitation and cracks in their operation, and in some cases repaired by electric arc welding, being a process of lower cost compared to the turbine exchange. A743 grade martensitic stainless steel CA6NM is used in services that require good mechanical resistance associated with corrosion resistance, especially in oil extraction equipment, rotors and hydraulic turbine components. This work aims to analyze the microstructure formed after TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding of an ASTM A743 CA6NM steel, using similar addition material, evaluating the presence of the delta ferrite, retained austenite and carbides structure. By varying the sample thicknesses and welding conditions as single pass welding and multipass, maintaining preheating temperature and interpass of 150ºC. Estimating the influence of the parameters in the microstructure with the hardness of the strands and the ZTA. The experiments revealed that a single soldering pass is sufficient for the formation of delta ferrite in the form of a net along the weld bead and in the regions exposed to high temperatures in the thermally affected zone (ZTA), as well as the hardness profile of the section cross section of the weld beads indicate hardness ranging from 344 ± 6 HV to the molten region, passing through a hardness peak of 379 ± 4 HV in the ZTA and ending in the base metal with 290 ± 5 HV, in the multipass weld the origin of the different In the present study, the ferrite morphologies are multiple, with a difference in the cooling rate in the cords, between the base and the top of the weld it is possible to detect the accumulation of delta ferrite in the interpass region and at the top of the last weld bead and the ZTA The thermally affected zone delta ferrite (ZTA) morphology in the multipass condition, as well as the cross section hardness profile of the weld beads, point to hardnesses that vary from 311 ± 24 HV for the molten region, passing through a hardness peak of 326 ± 33 HV in the ZTA.