Microstructure and Tensile Properties of SS400 Carbon Steel and SUS430 Stainless Steel Butt Joint by Gas Metal Arc Welding

Abstract

The application of SS400 carbon steel and AISI430 ferritic stainless steel joint has been increased in industries because of the advantage of both metals was able to increase the service lifetime of the important structures. Therefore, a fusion welding process that could produce a sound weld and good joint properties should be optimized. This research is aimed to weld a butt joint of SS400 carbon steel and AISI430 ferritic stainless steel using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) welding process and to study the effects of welding parameters on joint properties. The experimental results were concluded as follows. The optimized welding parameter that produced the tensile strength of 448 MPa was the welding current of 110A, the welding speed of 400 mm/min and the mixed gas of <TEX>$80%Ar+20%CO_2$</TEX>. Increase of the welding current affected to increase and decrease the tensile strength of the joint, respectively. Lower welding current produced the incomplete bonding of the metals and indicated the low tensile strength. Microstructure investigation of the welded joint showed a columnar grain in the weld metal and a coarse grain in the heat affected zone (HAZ). The unknown hard precipitated phases were also found at the grain boundaries of the weld metal and HAZ. The hardness profile did not show the difference of the hardness on the joint that was welded by various welding currents but the hardness of the weld metal was higher than that of the other location.