Investigation of dissimilar metal (stainless steel and copper) joining and the effect of offsetting and other welding parameters

Abstract

Dissimilar metal joining without additional preparation like preheating and grooving using conventional arc welding processes. The challenges related to dissimilar joints are overcome by using proper heat distribution according to the heat requirement of different plates. In the present study, GTAW is used to join SS and Cu, mode of joining is welding-brazing mode on the SS side. The heat distribution is done by offsetting the arc towards the Cu side because of the high thermal diffusivity of Cu compared to stainless steel (SS). For the complete joining, the 2nd pass is done without offset. A “beach” of unmixed Cu metal along the Cu fusion line and “peninsula” of an unmixed SS in the weld metal is observed in the microstructure. The grain size variation is observed in the different zones of the weldment due to the segregation of SS particles in weldment. The joint integrity is analyzed with an optical microscope image of the bead, and the detailed analysis of weldment is done using FESEM images in BSD mode. From the microstructure porosity and Cu, penetration is observed in the SS side mushy zone. The microhardness of the weld bead is utilized to see the effect of grain size and amount of SS particles on the mechanical property of weldment in the different zone of the weld bead. The tensile test is conducted to study the joint property of the test coupon. The joint strength of Joint-7 is 225 MPa and percentage elongation is 17 percent, efficiency obtained is around 85 per cent of the Cu plate.