Exploring the Impact of Cooling Rate on Microstructural Features, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Resistance of a Novel Nb-Stabilized Super Duplex Stainless Steel in Shielded Metal Arc Welding

Abstract

The corrosion and mechanical response produced by quenching in the welded joint of a new Nb-doped stainless steel designed by the CALPHAD method and produced by open-atmosphere casting with recycled materials were investigated to contribute to the circular economy and to establish disruptive manufacturing criteria based on metallurgical principles. The steel was initially subjected to solubilization heat treatment and partial solubilization treatment at 1090 °C to obtain an appropriate α/γ balance and carbide solubilization. It was then welded by the SMAW process, quenched, and tempered at three different cooling rates. As a result, a good fit between the phases predicted by the CALPHAD method and those observed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were obtained, with minor differences attributable to the precipitation and diffusion kinetics required for dissolution or nucleation and growth of the phases in the system. The forced air quenching mechanism was identified as providing an α/γ phase equilibrium equivalent to 62/38 as the most effective quenching method for achieving the optimum mechanical and corrosion response, even with the post-weld σ phase and showing superior results to those of the base metal. The outstanding mechanical and corrosion responses resulted from a proper balance of the primary phases in the duplex steel with a precipitation-strengthening mechanism. The damage tolerance obtained by forced air quenching was superior to that obtained by water and air quenching, with a PSE of 24.71 GPa% post-welding.