Effect of sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and delta ferrite on weld solidification cracking of AISI 310S austenitic stainless steel. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Almomani, Abdulla; I. Mourad, Abdel-Hamid; Barsoum, Imad
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 139(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Austenitic stainless steel -- Solidification cracking -- Delta ferrite -- Welding -- Prediction diagram; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2022.106488
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Highlights: The influence of the S, P, and Si and the δ-ferrite content on the susceptibility of AISI 310S to weld solidification cracking is investigated. Adequate control of S and P to less than 0.02%, and Si away from 1.5 to 2.5% was found key in preventing solidification cracking. Benchmarking the case results with the modified Suutala and Pacary curves revealed close outcomes. Abstract: Solidification cracking is very common in the welding process of austenitic stainless steels and can lead to premature failures. Yet, the main quantitative impact of S, P and Si on solidification cracking is still lacking. In addition, the present solidification cracking prediction diagrams are merely composition based, i.e., C r e q / N i e q dependent. Hence, this work aim to highlight the importance of controlling S, P, Si, and δ-ferrite on the susceptibility of AISI 310S to solidification cracking. Penetrant testing, XRF spectrometry, hardness, ferrite measurements, along with microscopic examination were used. XRF spectroscopy revealed 0.09% S, 0.09% P and 2.27% Si at the weld which are deemed to be in critical range according to the reported literature and ASTM A240. Benchmarking the results with the modified Suutala and Pacary curves revealed close results. Therefore, outcomes from this work can aid in the development of such prediction diagrams, along with improvement to the refining industry.