Microstructural Characterization and Corrosion Behavior of Activated Flux Gas Tungsten Arc-Welded and Multipass Gas Tungsten Arc-Welded Stainless Steel Weld Joints in Nitric Acid

AISI Type 304L (UNS S30403) austenitic stainless steels are widely used in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, and welding is an indispensable tool used for joining these materials. In the present study, manual gas tungsten arc-welded (M-GTAW) and activated gas tungsten arc-welded (A-GTAW) weldments of Type 304L stainless steel were prepared to examine the microstructural and corrosion behavior of the weldments. A total of 6 passes were required to complete the 6 mm thick sample welding, and 16 passes were required for 12 mm thick sample welding using the M-GTAW process, compared to single-pass A-GTAW welding. Characterization of weld joints was done by radiography, optical microscopy, microhardness tester, a feritscope, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical microstructure of the fusion zone of weld joints showed delta ferrite in various morphologies. The presence of delta ferrite stringers were observed in the weld joints, extending from the weld metal to the base metal. The corrosion rate results showed that the M-GTAW sample showed only a marginal increase in the corrosion resistance when compared to those welded by the single-pass A-GTAW process. SEM examination revealed the morphology of attack in the base metal was predominantly intergranular while in the weld metal it was interdendritic. The SEM micrograph also showed preferential attack of the delta ferrite stringers.