Precipitated phases and corrosion behavior in the dissimilar alloy 690-SUS 304L joints formed by EBW and GTAW

This study investigates the correlation between the microstructure and the corrosion resistance properties of the fusion zone of Alloy 690-SUS 304L stainless steel dissimilar weldments formed by electron beam welding (EBW). The effects of the EBW process are evaluated by comparing the microstructure and corrosion resistance properties of the EBW weldment with those of Alloy 690-SUS 304L weldment formed by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The experimental results reveal that the interdendritic region of the fusion zone of the EBW weldment contains fine TiN precipitates and Cr-Ni rich phases. The TiN precipitates are originated from the Alloy 690 base metal, while the Cr-Ni rich phases, a new formation of precipitates, is precipitated in the region around TiN during solidification. Microscopic analysis of the samples following a modified Huey test indicates that the matrix around TiN precipitate and the Cr-Ni rich phase precipitate provide the preferred sites for corrosion pit initiation. Due to the rapid cooling in the EBW process, relatively fewer and smaller TiN precipitates and Cr-Ni rich phases are formed in the weldment. Consequently, only limited corrosive pitting is observed which indicates better interdendritic corrosion resistance properties in comparison to joints with GTAW process. Furthermore, rapid solidification in the fusion zone results not only the suppression of chromium carbide precipitation but also the chromium depletion at the grain boundaries. As a result, the intergranular corrosion resistance and interdendritic corrosion resistance of the EBW weldment are significantly higher than that of the GTAW weldment.