WELDABILITY OF AUSTENITIC

STAINLESS STEEL

LALIT D PATIDAR
WELDING ENGG.
 Content

• Introduction of SS
• Classification of SS & its Properties
• Austenitic Stainless Steel
• Alloying elements of ASS
• Weldability ASS
 Stainless Steel
• Iron base alloys
• Cr the main alloying element (Min 11%)
• SS generic name given to group of corrosion &
heat resisting steel
• 200 different grades

Alloying Elements:
Cr, Ni, Mo, Ti, Nb & Cb

• Improve its Metallurgical, Physical & Mechanical Properties

 Classification of Stainless Steel
• According to Chemical composition & Metallurgical
Structure at room temperature

Five Major Groups:

1. Martensitic Stainless Steels

2. Ferritic Stainless Steels
3. Austenitic Stainless Steels
4. Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels
5. Duplex Stainless Steels
 Ferritic Stainless Steel
• At room temperature – Ferritic structure
• (Cr – 17 X %C) > 12.7
• e.g. (AISI) 430 - 16 %Cr, 0.12%C max.
446 - 25%Cr, 0.2%C max.

Mechanical Properties
Y.S. MPa T.S. MPa % Elongation
350 550 30

• Lower cost ( Expensive Ni not present)

• Excellent corrosion & Oxidation resistance
 Martensitic Stainless Steel
• At room temperature – Martensitic structure
• (Cr – 17 X %C) < 12.7
• e.g. (AISI) 410 & 416 - 12-14 %Cr, 0.15%C max.

Mechanical Properties

Y.S. Mpa T.S. MPa % Elongation

1200 1300 5

• Cutlery items, surgical instruments & High quality of

ball bearings
 Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel
• Ti, Cu, Al, Nb higher solubility at higher temp. in Fe-Cr base
alloys - PPT as a second phase when cooled to room temp.
• Second phase improves the mechanical properties
• AISI 600 series

Characteristics:
• Corrosion & Oxidation resistance
• Strength at elevated temp.

Application:
• Mostly used in aerospace application
 Duplex Stainless Steel

•At room temperature – Austenitic-Ferritic structure

Properties
• High Y.S than the Austenitic grades
• Better resistance to Chloride corrosion
• Better toughness and higher fabricability than Ferritic grades
 Austenitic Stainless Steel
• At room temperature – Austenitic structure
• Austenitic stabilizers present – Ni & Mn
• e.g. (AISI) 304 - 18%Cr, 8%Ni, 0.08%C max.
316 - 18%Cr, 8%Ni, 2%Mo, 0.08%C max.

Mechanical Properties

Y.S. MPa T.S. MPa % Elongation

240 600 65

• High IGC Resistance

• Better resistance to pitting and sulphuric acid
• Better formability
 Austenitic Stainless Steel

Mech. Properties of ASS depends on:

– Chemical composition
– Grain size
– Amount of  -ferrite phase
– C & N interstitial alloying elements
• Good ductility & toughness with high strength
• Formability of ASS is excellent compared to other grades

#Non-magnetic at room temp.

 Classification of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Based upon alloying elements

1) Iron-Cr-Ni alloys (AISI 300 series)

2) Iron-Cr-Mn alloys (AISI 200 series)
 Fe-Cr-Ni alloys (AISI 300 series)
 Largest group of stainless steel in use
 Ni main alloying element (Austenite stabilizer)
 Ni addition extends the gamma phase
Development of Cr-Ni ASS
Cr-Ni ASS : Chemical Composition
Cr-Ni ASS : Mech. Properties
(at annealed condition)
 Grades
Welding electrode 308, 309 Controlled the  ferrite &
grades Weldment free from crack
High temperature 309, 310 Higher content of Cr& Ni,Cr
oxidation resistant resists scale formation & Ni
improve scaling resistance
High corrosion resistant 316, 317 Improves corrosion resistance,
grades Pitting resistance.
Extra low carbon steels 304L, Reduced carbide precipitation
316L Stress relieving in the
sensitization temp. Range
Stabilized Grades 321,347 Cr maintained at high temp.
Use at 427-899ºC temp. range
during service
 Weldability

•AWS Definition :
“The capacity of a metal to be welded under the
fabrication conditions imposed, into a specific,
suitably designed structure, and to perform
satisfactorily in the intended service”
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
• ASS are most weldable alloy of SS family
• Welded by fusion and resistance welding processes
Properties
– M.P low (1398 ºC – 1454 ºC)
– Electrical resistivity high
– Thermal conductivity low
– Molten weld pool is more viscous & sluggish
– Cofficient of expansion 30-40% greather than ferrite

Properties Austenitic Carbon steel

Thermal conductivity .033 .104
Coefficient of expanion 18.2 13.2
Electrical pesistivity 70 15
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
Austenite stabilizer Schaeffler diagram
Ni , C , N , Mn & Cu
Low temperature properties

Ferrite stabilizer
Cr , Mo , Si , Nb , Ti , Cb ,
V , Al

• Ferrite formers
• Corrosion resistance
Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
Effect of alloying element on the properties of steel
Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Delong Diagram
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
• Improper welding condition (long arc, lack of proper shielding
etc) change  ferrite content
• Sensitization: Slow cooling (899ºC -427°C)
Cr carbide ppt. at grain boundaries – corrosion attack
• Preheat not required
• Interpass temp control- extremely important
• SCC – Presence of stress + Halogen atmosphere
• PWHT not required
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
• Two problems associated with welding of ASS
1) Carbide precipitation
2) Cracking tendency

• Carbide precipitation
- The steel exposed for long periods temp. range 427-899ºC
- Cr carbide at grain boundaries.
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel

• Avoiding Cr carbide precipitation

-By solution annealing after welding
-Use of extra low carbon grades
-Use of stabilized SS
 Weldability of Austenitic Stainless Steel
• Welding processes
1. Metal Arc
2. TIG
3. MIG
4. Plasma
5. SAW

• Gas welding or carbon arc welding are not recommended

for welding of stainless steel.
Thank You