Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multi-component Cu-Strengthened Steel Welding Simulations: Atom Probe Tomography and Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Analyses

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experimental steel with the composition Fe-1.39Cu-2.70Ni-0.58Al-0.48Mn-0.48Si-0.065Nb-0.05C (wt pct) or alternatively Fe-1.43Cu-2.61Ni-1.21Al-0.48Mn-0.98Si-0.039Nb-0.23C (at. pct) has been developed at Northwestern University, which has both high toughness and high strength after quenching and aging treatments. Simulated heat-affected zone (HAZ) samples are utilized to analyze the microstructures typically obtained after gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Dissolution within the HAZ of cementite (Fe3C) and NbC (F.C.C.) is revealed using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, while dissolution of Cu precipitates is measured employing local electrode atom probe tomography. The results are compared to Thermo-Calc equilibrium calculations. Comparison of measured Cu precipitate radii, number density, and volume fraction with similar measurements from a GMAW sample suggests that the cooling rate in the simulations is faster than in the experimental GMAW sample, resulting in significantly less Cu precipitate nucleation and growth during the cooling part of the weld thermal cycle. The few Cu precipitates detected in the simulated samples are primarily located on grain boundaries resulting from heterogeneous nucleation. The dissolution of NbC precipitates and the resultant austenite coarsening in the highest-temperature sample, coupled with a rapid cooling rate, results in the growth of bainite, and an increase in the strength of the matrix in the absence of significant Cu precipitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P.J. Konkol, K.M. Stefanick, and G.S. Pike: Weld. J., 2011, vol. 90(2), pp 34–41.

    Google Scholar 

  2. M.D. Mulholland and D.N. Seidman: Scipta Mater., 2009, Vol. 60(11), pp 992-995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M.D. Mulholland and D.N. Seidman: Acta Mater, 2011, Iss. 5, Vol. 59, pp 1881-1897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. M.D. Mulholland and D.N. Seidman: Microsc Microanal, 2011, Iss. 6, Vol. 17, pp 950-962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Saha and G.B. Olson: J. Comput-Aided Mater. Des., 2007, Iss. 2, Vol. 14, pp 177-200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Saha, J. Jung and G.B. Olson: J. Comput-Aided Mater. Des., 2007, Iss. 2, Vol. 14, pp 201-233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. D. Isheim, A.H. Hunter, X.J. Zhang and D.N. Seidman: Metall. Mat. Trans. A, 2013, Iss. 7, Vol. 44, pp 3046-3059.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R.P. Kolli, R.M. Wojes, S. Zaucha and D.N. Seidman: Int. J. Mater. Res., 2008, Iss. 5, Vol. 99, pp 513-527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Vaynman, D. Isheim, R.P. Kolli, S.P. Bhat, D.N. Seidman, and M.E. Fine: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2008, Vol. 39A, pp 363-373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. D. Isheim, R.P. Kolli, M.E. Fine and D.N. Seidman: Scripta Mater., 2006, Vol. 55(1), pp 35–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M.S. Gagliano and M.E. Fine: CALPHAD, 2001, Vol. 25(2), pp 207–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M.S. Gagliano and M.E. Fine: CALPHAD, 2004, Vol. 35A(8), pp 2323–29.

    Google Scholar 

  13. S. Vaynman, M.E. Fine, and S.P. Bhat: Proceedings from the Materials Science & Technology 2004 Conference, AIST and TMS, Warrendale, PA, 2004, pp. 417–21.

  14. S. Vaynman, M.E. Fine, C. Hahin, N. Biondolillo and C. Crosby: Modern Steel Construction, 2007, vol. 47, p. 50.

    Google Scholar 

  15. S. Vaynman, M.E. Fine, R.I. Asfahani, D.M. Bormet, and C. Hahin: Proceedings from the Materials Solutions Conference 2002, ASM International, Columbus, OH, 2002, pp. 43–48.

  16. S. Vaynman and M.E. Fine: International Symposium on Steel for Fabricated Structures, 1999, pp. 59–66.

  17. S. Vaynman, I.J. Uslander, and M.E. Fine: 39th Mechanical Working and Steel Processing Conference Proceedings, ISS, Indianapolis, IN, 1997, pp. 1183–19.

  18. S. Vaynman, M.E. Fine, G. Ghosh, and S.P. Bhat: Proceedings of the Fourth Materials Engineering Conference, ASCE, New York, NY, 1996, pp. 1551–60.

  19. R.P. Kolli and D.N. Seidman: Microsc. microanal., 2007, Iss. 4, Vol. 13, pp 272-284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. R.P. Kolli, Z. Mao, D.N. Seidman and D.T. Keane: Appl. Phys. Lett., 2007, Iss. 24, Vol. 91, pp 241903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. R.P. Kolli and D.N. Seidman: Acta Mater., 2008, Iss. 9, Vol. 56, pp 2073-2088.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. J.D. Farren, A.H. Hunter, J.N. Dupont, D.N. Seidman, C.V. Robino and E. Kozeschnik: Metall Mater Trans A, 2012, Vol. 43A, pp 4155-4170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. A.H. Hunter, J.D. Farren, J.N. Dupont and D.N. Seidman: Metall Mater Trans A, 2013, Iss. 4, Vol. 44A, pp 1741-1759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. B.M. Leister and J.N. DuPont: Weld J, 2012, Iss. 2, Vol. 91, pp 53s-58s.

    Google Scholar 

  25. J.D. Farren, A.H. Hunter, J.N. DuPont, C.V. Robino, E. Kozeschnik and D.N. Seidman: Weld J, 2013, Iss. 5, Vol. 92, pp 140s-147s.

    Google Scholar 

  26. P.W. Fuershbach and G.R. Eisler: 6th Intl. Trends in Welding Research, Pine Mountain, GA, April 15–19, 2002.

  27. R.P. Kolli: Ph.D. Thesis, Northwestern University, 2007.

  28. B.D. Cullity and S.R. Stock: Elements of X-Ray Diffraction, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle Rivery, NJ, 2001, pp. 351-361.

    Google Scholar 

  29. L.C.D. Fielding: Mater Sci Tech Ser, 2013, Iss. 4, Vol. 29, pp 383-399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. S.J. Lee, M.T. Lusk and Y.K. Lee: Acta Mater, 2007, Iss. 3, Vol. 55, pp 875-882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. C.S. Smith: Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Metall. Eng., 1948, Vol. 175, pp 15-51.

    Google Scholar 

  32. S. Takaki, K. Kawasaki and Y. Kimura: J Mater Process Tech, 2001, Iss. 3, Vol. 117, pp 359-363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. M. Perez, F. Perrard, V. Massardier, X. Kleber, A. Deschamps, H. De Monestrol, P. Pareige, and G. Covarel: Philos Mag, 2005, Iss. 20, Vol. 85, pp 2197-2210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. X.H. Yu, J.L. Caron, S.S. Babu, J.C. Lippold, D. Isheim and D.N. Seidman: Acta Mater, 2011, Iss. 6, Vol. 59, pp 2564-2564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is funded by the Office of Naval Research under grants N00014-09-1-0361 and N00014-07-1-0331 (Dr. W.W. Mullins, grant monitor). LEAP tomographic measurements are performed at the Northwestern University Center for Atom Probe Tomography (NUCAPT). The LEAP tomography system was purchased with funding from NSF-MRI Grant DMR-0420532 and with initial funding from ONR-DURIP Grant N00014-0400798, and with funding for upgrades from N00014-0610539, N00014-0910781, and the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) for grants to upgrade the capabilities of NUCAPT. Portions of this work were performed at the DuPont-Northwestern-Dow Collaborative Access Team (DND-CAT) located at Sector 5 of the Advanced Photon Source (APS). DND-CAT is supported by E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., The Dow Chemical Company, and Northwestern University. Use of the APS, an Office of Science User Facility operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory, was supported by the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors kindly thank Dr. Dieter Isheim for managing NUCAPT, helpful discussions, and assistance with this project, and Dr. Denis T. Keane for his generous assistance with the XRD measurements. DNS thanks Prof. Emeritus M. E. Fine for generously introducing him to the subject of NUCu steels, which he had developed over many years at Northwestern University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208-3108, USA

    Allen H. Hunter (Ph.D. Candidate, Applications Engineer) & David N. Seidman (Professor)

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA

    Jeffrey D. Farren (Ph.D. Candidate, Engineer) & John N. DuPont (Assistant Professor)

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208-3108, USA

    David N. Seidman (Professor)

  4. FEI Co., Hillsboro, OR, USA

    Allen H. Hunter (Ph.D. Candidate, Applications Engineer)

  5. NSWCCD, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jeffrey D. Farren (Ph.D. Candidate, Engineer)

Authors
  1. Allen H. Hunter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey D. Farren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John N. DuPont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David N. Seidman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allen H. Hunter.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted October 9, 2013.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hunter, A.H., Farren, J.D., DuPont, J.N. et al. Multi-component Cu-Strengthened Steel Welding Simulations: Atom Probe Tomography and Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Analyses. Metall Mater Trans A 46, 3117–3131 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-015-2899-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-015-2899-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation