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Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Laser Melted 304L SS Weldment in Nitric Acid Medium

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Abstract

The manuscript presents the effect of laser surface melting on the corrosion property of 304L SS weldment in nitric acid medium. 304L SS weldment was prepared by gas tungsten arc welding process and subsequently laser surface melted using Nd:YAG laser. The microstructure and corrosion resistance of laser surface melted 304L SS weldment was evaluated and compared with that of 304L SS as-weldment and 304L SS base. Microstructural evaluation was carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopes attached with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Corrosion investigations were carried out in 4 and 8 M nitric acid by potentiodynamic polarization technique. From the results, it was found that laser surface melting of the weldment led to chemical and microstructural homogeneities, accompanied by a substantial decrease in delta ferrite content, that enhanced the corrosion resistance of the weldment in 4 and 8 M nitric acid. However, the enhancement in the corrosion resistance was not substantial. The presence of small amount of delta ferrite (2-4 wt.%) in the laser surface melted specimens was found to be detrimental in nitric acid. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies were carried out to investigate the composition of the passive film.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. R. Asuwathraman, Scientist, Material Chemistry Division, and Mr. Nandagopala Krishna, Scientist, Corrosion Science and Technology Group (CSTG), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, for the support rendered in XRD and XPS studies. Thanks are due to Mr. T. Nandakumar, CSTG for the support rendered during the course of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, TN, 603102, India

    Girija Suresh, Arup Dasgupta, C. Mallika & U. Kamachi Mudali

  2. Department of Metallurgy, Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, 533 003, India

    P. S. V. R. A. Kishor

  3. Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, 452013, India

    B. N. Upadhyay

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  1. Girija Suresh
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Correspondence to U. Kamachi Mudali.

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Suresh, G., Kishor, P.S.V.R.A., Dasgupta, A. et al. Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Laser Melted 304L SS Weldment in Nitric Acid Medium. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 26, 773–782 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2488-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2488-3

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