Abstract
Electron beam welding was conducted on SA508 Gr.3 Cl.1 steel, which is being considered as a material used in the pressure vessel steel of small modular reactors. The characteristics of the welds were analyzed under various heat treatment conditions. The heat treatment conditions were categorized as as-welded, post weld heat treatment(PWHT), quality heat treatment(QHT), and their features were examined and compared through cross-sectional structure and composition analyses, as well as mechanical property tests. The electron beam welded joints displayed no defects, including pores or cracks. weld metal of the as-welded specimen revealed a needle-type martensite with high hardness, whereas the base metal was characterized by tempered bainite. The weld cross-section bead of the QHT specimen exhibited no significant difference in microstructure compared to the base metal. Tensile testing revealed that both the as-welded and PWHT specimens fractured at the base metal, whereas the QHT specimen fractured at the weld metal. The PWHT specimens showed enhanced impact values in the welds compared to the as-welded specimens. In the QHT specimens, both the base metal and the weld metal demonstrated similarly favorable impact values, approximately 200 Joules. It is evident that post-welding heat treatment improves the toughness value, and quality heat treatment can result in the weld metal being similar to the base metal.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
