EERZ (Effective Equilibrium Reaction Zone) Model of Gas-Slag-Metal Reactions in the Application of Unconstrained Al-Ni-Cr-Co-Cu Metal Powders in Submerged Arc Welding: Model and 3D Slag SEM Evidence

Abstract

The scope of this work is to improve the SAW process understanding and present an improved description of the SAW process in terms of gas-slag-metal reactions with alloy powder and Al powder additions. The scope does not include the materials properties of the weld metal. The latter may easily be optimised in the future by changing the weld metal chemistry once the process reactions of different element powders in SAW are understood. Aluminium as de-oxidiser element was applied to SAW to lower the oxygen partial pressure in the process. The results show the Al-Ni-Cr-Co-Cu alloyed weld metal total oxygen content was reduced to 257 ppm O, compared to the base case weld metal at 499 ppm O, made with the same flux and no metal powder additions. Thus, the aluminium that was added as a de-oxidiser element to the SAW process effectively lowered the original flux-induced partial oxygen pressure, both in the arc cavity and at the interface of the molten flux–weld pool phases. This partial oxygen pressure lowering effect of Al also prevents oxidation of Cr, preventing loss of Cr to the slag. Carbon steel was alloyed to 3.9% Al, 4.8% Ni, 4.9% Cr, 4.8% Co, 4.7% Cu at 62% Al yield, 76% Ni yield, 77% Cr yield, 75% Co yield, 74% Cu yield. SEM (scanning electron microscope) work on the three-dimensional (3D) post-weld slag sample show dome cavities with 3D rounded structures embedded in the dome cavity walls, as well as shards and nano-strands on the dome cavity walls. The 3D structures indicate vapour formation and re-condensation of oxy-fluorides. The novel application of the EERZ (effective equilibrium reaction zone) model simulates the mass transfer effects in the SAW process. This model is novel because it is the first model used to calculate the gas-slag-metal phase chemistry changes in SAW as a function of welding time. The novel SAW process modification of adding Al de-oxidiser powder with alloying element powders of the unique combination of Co-Cr-Co-Ni-Al was successfully applied. The results confirm that the gas phase and its reactions must be included in the interpretation and modelling of SAW process metallurgy.