Impurity-induced embrittlement of heat-affected zone in welded Mo-based alloys

Abstract

Characteristics of strength and plasticity, fracture mode and grain boundary segregation for two Mo-based alloys with different bulk compositions, recrystallized by either furnace annealing or rapid heating followed by quenching, are studied as a function of heating temperature by mechanical test, scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and computer simulation. There exists an essential difference in both segregation behaviour and mechanical properties between as-annealed and as-quenched structural states. The rapid quenching causes strong oversaturation of the grain boundaries. In this case, intergranular enrichment is approximately twice as high as that in as-annealed alloys, and spontaneous nucleation of brittle microcracks is observed at certain embrittled boundaries. The proposed high-speed heat treatments are considered as a promising method for modelling of the structural states of the heat-affected zone of weldments. The results obtained are discussed from the viewpoint of possible reasons of impurity-induced embrittlement of Mo-based alloys.