Dissimilar Metal Gas Tungsten Arc Weldments of Maraging Steel and Medium Alloy Medium Carbon Steel – Effect of Post-Weld Heat Treatments

Abstract

Maraging steel and medium alloy medium carbon steels exhibit their best mechanical properties such as tensile strength and toughness in their respective heat treatment conditions. Gas tungsten arc welding of maraging steel and medium alloy medium carbon steel was carried out taking both the steels in soft annealed condition. Later the weldments were subjected independently to two post-weld heat treatments, one corresponding to the maraging steel i.e. solutionising at 815°C/1 hr/air cooled&aging at 480°C/3 hrs/air cooled, and the other corresponding to medium alloy medium carbon steel i.e. quenching at 925°C/35 min/air cooled&tempering at 295°C/45 min/air cooled. The effect of post-weld heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength and impact toughness of the dissimilar metal welds of maraging steel and medium alloy medium carbon steel was investigated. The influence of filler materials was also studied by employing maraging steel and medium alloy medium carbon steel fillers. Maraging steel welds responded to the solutionising and aging treatment whereas the medium alloy medium carbon steel welds responded to quenching and tempering. Lowering of the hardness was observed at the interaction of maraging steel and medium alloy medium carbon steel due to the diffusion of manganese. Medium alloy medium carbon steel filler welds showed good strength and toughness properties.