Engineering, 2010, 2, 520-528
doi:10.4236/eng.2010.27069 Published Online July 2010 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/eng)
Copyright © 2010 SciRes. ENG
Dissimilar Welding of Superduplex Stainless Steel/HSLA
Steel for Offshore Applications Joined by GTAW
Bravo Ivan Mendoza1, Zepeda Cuauhtemoc Maldonado1, Hernandez Apolinar Albiter2,
Piedras Eduardo Robles3
1Instituto de Investigacion e s Metalúrgicas-UMSNH, Morelia Michoacán, México
2Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, México, D. F., México
3Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, La Marquesa , Ocoyoacac, México
E-mail: ivanmendozabravo@gmail.com
Received January 15, 2010; revised March 2, 2010; accepted March 13, 2010
Abstract
The dissimilar metal weld is demanding as well as the similar weld, however, dissimilar weld is more com-
plex than similar weld due to the necessity of being applied in zones where a requirement is to improve some
properties. In this work the main purpose is to know the mechanical behavior of a dissimilar weld between
HSLA Steel and Superduplex Stainless Steel (SDSS) to establish if the joint is feasible or not. The alloys
were welded with GTAW process using a 60-deg and 90-deg single-V groove test specimens in order to ob-
serve the effect of the weld pass. The filler metal was chosen with the aid of Schaeffler diagram. It was
found that the ER 25.10.4L filler metal provided the best equilibrium between ferrite and austenite phase in
the Superduplex Stainless Steel final microstructure and a band of martensite in the HSLA steel final micro-
structure. The dissimilar joint presented acceptable mechanical properties which are superior to the HSLA in
the as-received condition, but lower than the SDSS in the as-received condition, proving that the filler metal
was the adequate.
Keywords: Superduplex Stainless Steel, API X-52, GTAW, Dissimilar Welding, Pipeline
1. Introduction
The oil, gas and petrochemical industries have been us-
ing API X52 pipes and other similar materials for off-
shore and onshore applications [1,2]. An important ap-
plication of the API X-52 pipe is the exploitation and
transportation of the hydrocarbons by Risers. However,
the Riser has shown corrosion problems in the splash
zone, especially three meters above and three meters
below of the sea level. Sea water and tides cause cycles
of wetting and drying on the Riser, promoting corrosion
and therefore the failure of the pipeline. Currently, the
Mexican Petroleum Industry has been using two solu-
tions for this problem: 1) cathodic protection and 2) a
carbon steel sleeve; however, both of them need perma-
nent inspection and maintenance [3]. SDSS has an ex-
cellent combination of mechanical properties and corro-
sion resistance [4,5], making it suitable for applications
with possibility of corrosion promoted by sea water [6-8],
thus, other possible solution for this problem could be
substituting the API X-52 pipe of the splash zone with
this superduplex stainless steels (SDSS).
Conventional arc welding process can be used to weld
SDSS very easily when the parameters are the adequate
to maintain the austenite/ferrite balance in the welding
metal. However, the most important weldability prob-
lems of SDSS are the changes in the austenite/ferrite
balance that can affect the ductility if the ferrite percent-
age is bigger than austenite, and promote the precipita-
tion of intermetallic phases such as sigma phase which
affect the corrosion resistance and toughness in the du-
plex stainless steels [9,10]. On the other hand the API
X-52 is also affected by the welding process but less than
SDSS. To minimize these effects, is important to make a
careful selection of welding materials and welding vari-
ables [9,11,12]. Barnhouse et al., studied dissimilar du-
plex stainless steel SAF 2205/carbon steel ASTM-A36
weld joint, by means of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
and evaluating two filler metals, finding that the filler
metal ER 2209 increases the ferrite number in the duplex
stainless steel and forms a martensite band on the fusion
boundary[11]. This band present solidification pattern
type II which was explained by Nelson et al., [13].
I. MENDOZA ET AL.521
Keeping in mind those results, the purpose of this inves-
tigation was established, therefore the first goal was to
select the filler metal to maintain the microstructure bal-
ance in SDSS and second, to study the effects of the
welding designs and the filler metal to determine the
mechanical properties and microstructural changes of
dissimilar SDSS 2507/API X52 weld joints.
2. Experimental Procedure
To select the filler metal to employ in the dissimilar met-
al welding (DMW), two filler metals were considered ER
25.10.4L and ER 2209, with the aim of analyzing their
effects on the microstructure using the WRC-1998 dia-
gram developed by Kotecki which considers the marten-
site boundary in the dissimilar metal joining and pro-
vides more accurate information [14]. The application of
this analysis was done considering the dilution at 50% on
both filler metals. The chemical compositions of the al-
loys are shown in Tab le 1 and were determined by opti-
cal emission spectrometry (OES) and the nitrogen con-
tent was determined by gas analysis.
The base materials employed API X-52 steel and SAF
2507 SDSS were supplied in pipe shape seamless with
internal diameter of 101.6 mm (4 in) and nominal thick-
ness of 6.35 mm (0.25 in). The pipes were cut into pieces
of 100 mm-length and each section was machined with a
30-deg bevel to result in a 60-deg angle in the single V
groove butt joint. Other pipe sections were prepared with
a 45-deg bevel to produce a 90-deg groove angle.
The GTAW process was chose because of the flexibil-
ity to be used in field applications which are one neces-
sity in the petrochemical industry. Table 2 shows the
welding parameters. The welding was performed by a
qualified welder.
The samples for the base metal microstructural char-
acterization were cut from the pipes in sizes of 25.4 mm2.
The cross sections of each combination of both dissimi-
lar metal welding were removed. All the samples were
polished using progressively diamond pastes of 6, 3 and
1 μm. The etching of API X-52 was carried out with Ni-
tal (100 mL of ethyl alcohol and 2 mL of nitric acid) and
SAF 2507 SDSS was etched with Beraha reagent (0.7 g
K2S2O5, 20 mL HCl, 80 mL H2O). The optical examina-
tions were done through a Nikon Epiphot 300 micro-
scope. Figure 1 shows the microstructure of the base
materials.
3. Results and Discussions
3.1. Filler Metal Selection
Figure 1 shows the API X-52 and SAF 2507 SDSS mi-
crostructures in the as-received condition. The base met-
al SAF 2507 SDSS contains 53% ferrite and 49% aus-
tenite with a standard deviation of +/– 2.5%; the API
X-52 presents 84.47% ferrite and 14.37% pearlite with a
standard deviation of +/– 2%.
The filler metals ER 2209 DSS and ER 25.10.4L SDSS
both were selected due to their chemical compositions
which promote ferrite/austenite transformation. There-
fore the filler metal has to keep the equilibrium between
those phases during the fast cooling typical of the weld-
ing process. For this work, WRC-1992 diagram modified
was selected due to accuracy to predict the microstruc-
ture of the dissimilar metal welding, specially the transi-
tion region between the weld metal and API X-52 [15].
This diagram was developed by Kotecki for alloys with
1% Mn as is shown in Figure 2. The analysis started
with the calculus of the Creq and Nieq for each alloy using
the chemical composition in Table 1 and the equations
proposed on this diagram.
Once this was done, the first step was to localize the
coordinates corresponding to the parent metals in the
diagram which are intersected by a line.
The middle point of this line could represent the join
of both parent metals in equal quantities, such as in the
practice, where the filler metal should be added to these
alloys, which is represented by a tie line between each
filler metal and the middle point. The prediction of the
microstructure for the dissimilar metal welding with the
filler metal ER 2209 is expected to have an 8 and 13 FN
with 50% and 25% of dilution respectively, both having
a primary ferrite solidification.
The prediction of the microstructure for the dissimilar
metal weld using ER 25.10.4L, showed an 18 and 10 FN
Table 1. Chemical composition of the base metal and fille r metals (wt.%).
Cr Ni Mo Mn Si C N S P Fe Cu W V Nb Creq Nieq
API X 52 0.043 0.065 0.0211 0.241 0.201- 0.007 0.011 98.090.149 0.004 0.061 0.015 0.0747.13
SAF 2507 25.86 7.4 4.27 0.42 0.353 0.019 0.27 0.002 0.021 63.120.117 0.030 0.056 0.008 30.13 13.94
ER
25.10.4L 21.72 7.32 3 0.509 0.49 0.0600.200.0050.02466.170.2670.038 0.198 0.019 24.7313.48
ER 2209 19.98 7.73 4.14 1.27 0.457 0.090 0.15 0.011 0.020 66.54 0.359 0.032 0.111 0.015 24.13 13.37
Copyright © 2010 SciRes. ENG
I. MENDOZA ET AL.
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522
Table 2. GTAW parameters.
GTAW PARAMETERS
Polarity DCEN
Welding current 110 A
Voltage 10 V
Welding speed 1.16 mm/sec
Shielding/Backing Gas Argon 100%
Interpass temperature 85°C max.
Heat input 0.75 kJ/mm
Filler metal diameter 2.4 mm
Figure 1. Microstructure of SAF 2507 and API X 52 in the
as-received condition (magnification 40X).
for 50% and 25% of dilution ratio respectively, but be-
low values of 42% of dilution the solidification mode is
changed from ferrite plus austenite to ferrite, for that
reason it could be said that ER 25.10.4L filler metal
showed a better microstructural equilibrium than ER
2209 filler metal and will present a low quantity of mar-
tensite phase because of its lower percentage of manga-
nese.
3.2. Dissimilar Metal Welding
To join the pipes of SAF 2507 /API X-52 was designed
the single V groove preparation varying the bevel angle
(60 and 90 degrees) and using the filler metal ER
25.10.4L with the aim of observing the effect of the
thermal cycle promoted by the subsequent pass over the
parent metals and previous passes.
To fill out the 60-deg dissimilar welding join, three
welding passes were needed and five welding passes to
fill out the DMW with 90-deg, as is shown in Figure 3.
For each single pass the same heat input of 0.75kJ/mm
was maintained. In Figure 3 is possible to observe the
difference on the microstructures in function of the
thermal cycles promoted by the welding passes, such
effect could be noticed in the heat affected zone (HAZ)
of the API X-52, where the phase transformation can be
observed in function of the contrast, as well as the weld
metal.
3.3. Microstructural Characterization
The microstructures in the DMW could be divided in
three sections; HAZ API X-52, weld metal and HAZ
SAF 2507 to observe the microstructural changes pre-
sented in each zone during the root, filler and cover pass.
The HAZ-API X-52 in both welds presents solid phase
transformations as observed in Figure 4, being those in
the 60-deg weld, more notable, where can be distinguish
the upper bainite (UB) which has a characteristic of fea-
thery appearance as is shown in the cover and filler pass;
widmanstätten ferrite (WF) and grain boundary ferrite
(GF) are present in the root pass.
On the other hand, the microstructure on the 90-deg
weld shows polygonal ferrite (PF) in the root pass and
the filler passes but in the cover pass shows acicular fer-
rite (AF) and grain boundary ferrite.
The microstructural differences between both welds
are in function of the weld pass number, due to each pass
submitted the parent metals to different thermal cycles,
or sometimes, the parent metal is reheated [16]. This is
possible to observe if both root passes are compared.
In the 60-deg weld is possible to observe the WF and
PF microstructures while in the weld with 90-deg only
PF is observed.
This difference is the result of the subsequent weld
passes which give different reheating and cooling rates,
as is shown in the filler pass on the 90-deg weld where
more weld passes were necessary to fill the join promot-
ing that the temperature was more stable and therefore,
causing slow cooling rates resulting in the same micro-
structure observed in the root pass.
I. MENDOZA ET AL.523
Figure 2. WRC-1992 diagram employed to select the filler metal.
Figure 3. DMW with different number of we lding passes.
The cover pass in both welds and filler pass in the
weld with 60-deg showed the effect of the fast cooling
which promotes the formation of upper bainite typical of
cooling rates too fast for pearlite to form, yet not rapid
enough to produce martensite [17].
It is important to denote the dramatic change in the
microstructure where the narrow martensite band is pre-
sent in the fusion boundary between the API X-52 and
the weld metal which had been predicted by the
WRC-1992 diagram modified by Kotecki to accurate the
prediction of martensite phase in function of the manga-
nese.
These microstructural changes in the dissimilar metal
welds have been studied by Nelson and Lippold who
established that dissimilar weld joints present solidifica-
tion pattern type II, similar to the one present in Figure 5,
where is clearly observed the suppression of normal epi-
taxial growth resulting in the formation of what are
called boundaries type II, which run roughly parallel to
the fusion boundary formed in the solid state during weld
cooling when both the weld metal and HAZ are austen-
itic, allowing austenite grain growth in the fusion bound-
ary. These boundaries may become sites for carbide pre-
cipitation, particularly if significant carbon migration
from the base metal has occurred [15].
The microstructural changes in the weld metal of both
dissimilar weld joints are shown in the Figure 6 where is
possible to observe the difference in the root and cover
passes due to the reformation of austenite, because the
microstructure in the weld metal is controlled by two
variables; the chemical composition of the filler metal
and the thermal cycle of the weld process.
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524
60-DEG
FILLER
ROOT
90-DEG
C
OVER
Figure 4. Transformations of solid phases in the HAZ APIX-52.
TYPE II
BOUNDARIES
Figure 5. Martensite band in the fusion bounda ry.
The first of them could be solved if the filler metal is
selected correctly in function of the chemical composi-
tion which stabilizes the austenite phase with elements
such as nickel and nitrogen, employing diagrams to pre-
dict the microstructure resulting of the mix of parent
metals and filler metal. The thermal cycles promoted by
the multipass welding can origin slow cooling rates,
causing a diffusional transformation of ferrite to austen-
ite where can be reached a favorable equilibrium be-
tween those phases. However, if the cooling is too slow
in the reheated areas it could be found the precipitation
of intermetallic phases [18].
The heat affected zone of the SAF 2507 present in
both welds, where is possible to observe the zone where
the austenite was diluted into the matrix, becomes in an
entire ferritic structure. During this process some pre-
cipitates could be formed, followed of this process and
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FILLER
ROOT
COVER
60-DEG
90-DEG
Figure 6. Austenite reformation in the weld metal.
above the temperature ferrite solvus, ferrite grain growth
occurs since there is no second phase (austenite) or pre-
cipitates to inhibit such growth.
The multipass welding could maintain the parent metal
above the ferrite solvus promoting the growth of the fer-
rite grains. During the cooling, when the temperature is
below the ferrite solvus temperature, austenite will nu-
cleate and grow and the precipitates will reform.
The ferrite-to-austenite transformation for a given al-
loy is controlled by the cooling rate. With higher cooling
rates as is shown in the 60-deg weld where is possible to
observe that the austenite reformation is suppressed and
resulting in higher ferrite contents in the HAZ. The de-
gree of precipitation is also a function of the cooling rate
[15].
3.4. Mechanical Properties
The dissimilar welding joints were subjected to tensile
test with the aim of knowing the ultimate strength and
the behavior of the joint. Two tensile samples with stan-
dard dimensions were performed for each joint, obtain-
ing values of ultimate strength of 541 and 533 MPa for
the 60-deg DMW and 531 and 556 MPa for the 90-deg
DMW.
All the values obtained from the tests were superior to
the ultimate strength of the API X-52 in the as-received
condition which is 455 MPa. The bend tests were applied
to know the sanity of the joints due to the welding of
duplex alloys, frequently present problems of cracks in
the weld metal and in the HAZ because of the high ferrite
con Figures 6 and 7 the balance n
tent [19]. As is shown i
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526
FILLER
ROOT
COVER
60-DEG
90-DEG
Figure 7. Heat affected zone in the SAF 2507.
of phases was adequate for that reason all the samples
showed good performance in the root and face bends.
The microhardness Vickers was performed with the
aim of knowing the effect of each phase in the dissimilar
joint, as is shown in Figure 8.
In Figure 8 is possible to notice the effect of the mar-
tensite band on the increase of the hardness in the fusion
boundaries followed by a hardness decreasing in the ad-
jacent zone in both dissimilar welds which could be at-
tributed to the phase transformations in that zone. Al-
though the decrease of the hardness in that zone, the
hardness values are higher than the hardness in the base
metal API X-52.
4. Conclusions
The selection of the filler metal employing the WRC-1992
modified by Kotecki demonstrated to be accurate for
dissimilar metal welding due to it can predict the mart-
ensite boundary and the microstructural balance between
ferrite and austenite using the ER 25.10.4L filler metal
which the chemical composition has low percentage of
manganese and molybdenum but high percentage of ni-
trogen. The effect of the filler metal is clearly observed
in the microstructure of the weld metal and HAZ where
high austenite phase was obtained, but is important to
consider the effect of the thermal cycles of the multipass
weld which promotes the austenite reformation.
The HAZ of the API X 52 shows different transforma-
tion typical of that alloy when they are submitted to
thermal cycles evolved a rapid cooling, which is the case
of upper bainite phase.
However, the polygonal ferrite is obtained when the
cooling rate is slow as presented in the reheated zones in
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I. MENDOZA ET AL.527
Figure 8. Microhardness profiles of the dissimilar metal
welding.
the HAZ. The martensite showed in the fusion bounda-
ries is formed when both alloys at high temperature pre-
sent austenite phase and some atoms of carbon starts to
diffuse from the API X-52 (with high concentration) to
the weld metal (with lower concentration). Nevertheless
some atoms during the cooling find the preferential place
in the interface, which promotes the transformation to
martensite phase. On the other hand the HAZ of the SAF
2507 SDSS is represented by the reformation of austenite
phase in the zones where ferrite solvus temperature was
reached, showing again the effect of the filler metal
composition and thermal cycles of multipass welding.
The dissimilar welding joint showed higher resistance
than the API X-52 base metal in the tensile test and good
performance in the bend test, showing the soundness of
the joint. The results demonstrated that the filler metal
contributes to the austenite formation which gives those
characteristics of behavior. The microhardness showed
not only the clear difference between the alloys but also
the effect of the phases, as the martensite phase.
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