Resumo Neste estudo, a microestrutura e a resistência à corrosão intergranular de aços inoxidáveis ferríticos com adições de Nb, Ti e (Ti+Nb) submetidos à soldagem TIG foram investigadas. A caracterização estrutural dos cordões de solda foi realizada através de microscopias óptica (MO) e eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e espectroscopia por energia dispersiva (EDS). A susceptibilidade à sensitização foi avaliada qualitativamente através da Prática W da norma ASTM 763 e quantitativamente através da técnica DL-EPR. Observou-se uma rede de martensita nos contornos de grão na região da solda do aço não estabilizado e uma microestrutura completamente ferrítica nas amostras dos aços com adições de estabilizantes. A Prática W revelou corrosão generalizada no interior dos grãos do aço AISI 430 e a presença de valas no AISI 430 Ti e concomitantemente com a técnica DL-EPR constatou-se que esses aços foram sensitizados pela soldagem. Já as amostras dos aços com adições de Nb e (Ti+Nb) mantiveram boa resistência à corrosão, estando livres de sensitização após a soldagem.

Abstract In this study the microstructure and the resistance to intergranular corrosion of ferritic stainless steels with additions of Nb, Ti and (Ti+Nb) submitted to the TIG welding were investigated. The microstructure of the weld beads was characterized by optical (MO) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies and by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The susceptibility to sensitization was assessed qualitatively by Practice W of ASTM 763 and quantitatively by the DL-EPR technique. Martensite was observed at the ferrite grain boundaries in the fusion and heat affected zones of the non-stabilized steel and a completely ferritic microstructure in the steels samples with addition of stabilizers. Practice W revealed general corrosion inside the grains of the AISI 430 steel and the presence of ditches in the AISI 430 Ti. Concomitantly, with the DL-EPR technique, it was found that the weld region of these steels was sensitized. On the other hand, the samples of the steels with Nb and (Ti + Nb) additions maintained good resistance to corrosion and presented no sensitization after welding.

ABSTRACT Austenitic stainless steel and nickel-base alloys welds are widely used in nuclear reactor components, plants of energy generation, chemical, and petrochemical industries, due to their high corrosion resistance. The post weld heat treatments (PWHT) are generally applied to welding in order to relieve the welding residual stress. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different PWHT on corrosion behavior of a dissimilar weld joint of two AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel plates with a nickel-base alloy as filler material in saline environments. The material was submitted to heat treatments for three hours at 600, 700 and 800 °C. The weld joint was examined by optical microscopy to determine the effects of PWHT in the microstructure. The corrosion behavior of the samples before and after heat treatment was evaluated using cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) in sodium chloride solutions (19% v/v) and pH 4.0 at room temperature. Metallographic analyses showed that delta ferrite dissolute as PWHT temperature increased. CPP curves demonstrated an increase of pitting corrosion resistance as the PWHT temperature rises, although the pit size has been increased. The heat treated weld joint at 600 °C showed a similar corrosion resistance compared to as-welded material.

Resumo A energia de soldagem (HI) máxima indicada para soldagem dos aços inoxidáveis duplex de 2,5kJ.mm-1 representa um fator limitante para o aumento de produtividade na soldagem dos mesmos, sendo a adição de arame frio uma alternativa interessante à essa questão. Avaliou-se a influência da energia de soldagem e da adição do arame frio nas características dimensionais, químicas e metalúrgicas do metal de solda (MS) obtido por arco submerso (SAW) em aço “lean” duplex UNS S32304, utilizando-se o consumível ER2209. Empregou-se o sistema ICETM que adiciona um arame frio entre dois arames energizados “twin” para executar cordões sobre chapas, empregando-se quatro diferentes HI e variando-se a porcentagem de arame frio em relação aos arames quentes em 0, 50 e 100%. Foram realizadas análise química, macrografia, análise dimensional, microscopia ótica e MEV/EDS do MS. A microestrutura do MS foi constituída de uma matriz ferrítica com a presença de austenita de contorno de grão, de Widmanstatten e intragranular e inclusões não metálicas, não sendo observado a ocorrência de precipitados deletérios como σ, χ e nitreto de cromo. A adição de arame frio aumentou a taxa de deposição e provocou a redução da diluição, produzindo soldas com maiores números equivalentes de resistência à corrosão por pite, principalmente para maiores HI, e maiores frações de austenita. Isso indica que o aumento da velocidade de alimentação de arame frio propicia o aumento da produtividade e da resistência à corrosão por pite do MS.

Abstract The maximum recommended welding energy (HI) of 2.5 kJ.mm-1 represents a limiting factor for the productivity increase for duplex stainless steels welding, and the addition of cold wire is an interesting alternative to this question. It has been evaluated the influence of welding energy and the addition of cold wire on the dimensional, chemical and metallurgical characteristics of the weld metal (WM) of SAW welds in lean duplex steel UNS S32304, using the ER2209 filler metal. The ICETM system was used to add a cold wire between two twin energized wires to produce bead-on-plate welds, applying four different HIs and varying the percentage of cold wire (AF) in relation to the hot wires at 0, 50 and 100%. It has been performed chemical analysis, macrography, dimensional analysis, optical microscopy and MEV / EDS in the WM of all conditions. The WM microstructure was constituted by a ferritic matrix with grain boundary, Widmanstatten and intergranular austenite and non-metallic inclusions. No deleterious precipitates such as σ, χ and chromium nitride were observed. The addition of cold wire increased the deposition rate and reduced dilution, achieving higher pitting resistance equivalent number, mainly for higher HI conditions, and higher austenite fractions. This indicates that the higher cold wire feed speed provides increased productivity and WM pitting corrosion resistance.

The cyclic potentiodynamic polarization behavior of duplex stainless steel (DSS) and lean duplexstainless steel (LDSS) was studied in white and green liquors froma pulp processingplant. The corrosion behavior in industrial and also synthetic liquor was compared. The polarization curves of the duplex steels in synthetic white liquor were shifted to lower potentials and higher current densities in relation to the steel in industrial white liquor, which proved to be less aggressive to the duplex steel. The duplex steels also showed the highest values of transpassive potential in industrial white liquor compared to synthetic liquor. Cold and hot rolled duplex and lean duplex steels in green liquor showed the lowest values of transpassive potential.

In this study, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld Refinement were performed to identify and quantify the ferrite and austenite phase of cold and hot rolled duplex stainless steels (UNS S31803) and lean duplex stainless steels (UNS S32304). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was applied to evaluate the chemical behavior of duplex and lean duplex stainless steels in white, green, and black liquors of paper and pulp industry. Rietveld analysis results showed a higher austenite content than the standard limit for duplex steels in the hot rolled condition. The hot rolling condition plays a major role in improving corrosion resistance in white liquor mainly for the lean duplex steel.