INVESTIGATIONS ON VARIABLE WELD PENETRATIONS IN GTA WELDING OF AUSTENITIC AND MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEELS

Variable weld bead penetrations related to the base metal chemistry of stainless steels in GTA welding have been under constant investigations due to their industrial implications. It has been proposed that among other elements, the sulfur content of steels determines the weld pool geometry, particularly its penetration. It is suggested that the surface tension temperature gradient of steels becomes positive with appropriate dosing in sulfur and results in inward melt flow, propitious for deeper welds. However, the chemistry of industrial steels is complex due to the presence of multiple minor elements either deliberately added or remnant impurity traces. With this in view, investigations on 41 austenitic and nine martensitic stainless steels were carried to see if there existed any possible relation between the weld profile and some of the designated elements. The results suggest no direct correlation between sulfur or any other major or trace element and weld penetration. At first glance the results are contradictory to what is often asserted.