Experimental simulation of dissimilar weld metal of high manganese steels by arc melting technique

Abstract

This paper presents an arc melting technique that allows simulating dissimilar weld metal of high manganese steels with ferritic and martensitic steel grades. The objective of this initial study was to conceive a melting technique that produces dissimilar metal welds using a GTA process in a water-cooled copper crucible under welding adequate cooling conditions and with homogeneous mixing. For this purpose, the sample size, the shape of the crucible, and the melting parameters have been optimized. Using the developed arc melting technique avoids the time-consuming and expensive process of iteratively producing actual welds. It is demonstrated that the dissimilar weld metal microstructure and properties can be easily evaluated for a wide range of dilutions. For an industrially relevant material combination of an austenitic high manganese steel and a ferritic low-alloy steel, the effect of dilution on the weld metal microstructure, the hardness, and the measured ferrite number are shown utilizing the developed arc melting technique. Determining the effect of dilution for a wide range material combination is the basis for the development of a constitutional diagram and will be part of a subsequent paper.