Specimens of steel 42CrMoS4 were quenched from the austenite (γ) and the ferrite (α) + austenite + cementite phase fields to produce fully martensitic matrices with 0 – 14 % ferrite dispersed in the matrix. After tempering at 300°C or 600°C mechanical and fatigue properties were determined. As expected yield strength, tensile strength and hardness decreased with increased tempering temperature and ferrite content. Quite unexpected, the fatigue properties were mildly affected. A small amount of ferrite, approximately 3% even appears to improve the fatigue strength. Then, at even higher ferrite amounts, slightly below 20% the fatigue strength appears to decrease again.

AgÃncia Nacional do PetrÃleo / Superduplex stainless steels (SDSS) may be defined as a family of steels having a two-phase ferritic-austenitic microstructure and the good mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance of this alloy are attributed to this microestrutural balance. These excellent qualities attribute to SDSS great employability in the oil sector, where manufacturing and equipment maintenance are performed by welding, which if not executed properly, can have a negative effect on the metallurgical properties and this problem becomes more critical in multipass welding due to repeated thermal cycles. Among the several welding processes employed in the welding of SDSS, fell to this work was to evaluate the FCAW process in multipass welding joints of SDSS UNS S32750, regarding the selection of appropriate welding parameters and the influence of these parameters on microstructural transformations, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of welded joints. Then, this work was divided into three steps: Stage 1 was the characterization of the base metal in as-received condition. In Stage 2, weldings were accomplished using a bead on plate (BOP) technique to determine the control factors and their levels to be used in the subsequent stage, in which an experimental design was conducted by Taguchi method with Alloy, Stick out, Shielding gas, welding gun orientation, Arc oscillation, Energy technique and Heat input used as control factors and quality characteristics were evaluated the ratio R/L, bead penetration, ferrite content and inclusions content and microhardness. Finally, in Stage 3 were performed multipass welding in joints and afterwards was executed: A microstructural characterization in three regions of Fusion Zone (Root, Filler and Cap) and Heat Affected Zone by Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and were also performed a measurement of the ferrite content; measurement of inclusions content; microhardness tests and Critical Temperature Pitting (CPT) tests according to ASTM G150. The results showed, ferrite contents ranging from 44% and 54.9% and their highest values were observed when employed the alloy 2507, heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm and pulsed current. The lowest inclusions contents were obtained by using of shielding gas with the mixture of 96%Ar + 4%CO2 (Stage 2) and heat input of 1,6kJ/mm (Stage 3). The microhardness values in FZ of joints were not affected significantly by any of the control factors. Already, the results of CPT tests showed that pits nucleated preferentially within α, at α/γ grain boundaries and at interfaces areas between large diameter inclusions and the metallic matrix and propagated predominantly into α phase. The CPT values ranging from 47 ÂC to 78 ÂC, with highest were obtained for the alloy 2507, heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm and continuous current into Root region and for the alloy 2507, heat input of 1.6 kJ/mm and the pulsed current in Filler and Cap regions. From the three regions of FZs, the Root showed the best results with no defects, satisfactory ferrite contents, lowest inclusions contents and highest CPT values. / Os aÃos inoxidÃveis superduplex (AISDs) possuem uma microestrutura bifÃsica constituÃda por ferrita (α) e austenita (γ) e quando devidamente balanceadas conferem ao material, boas propriedades mecÃnicas e elevada resistÃncia à corrosÃo. Qualidades que atribuem aos AISDs grande empregabilidade no setor petrolÃfero, onde a fabricaÃÃo e manutenÃÃo de equipamentos sÃo realizadas por soldagem e se executada inadequadamente, pode afetar negativamente as propriedades destes aÃos, o que se torna mais crÃtico quando hà a imposiÃÃo de inÃmeros ciclos tÃrmicos durante uma soldagem multipasse. Dentre os inÃmeros processos de soldagem utilizados na soldagem dos AISDS, coube a este trabalho avaliar o processo arame tubular na soldagem multipasse em juntas do AISD UNS S32750, levando em consideraÃÃo a seleÃÃo dos parÃmetros de soldagem adequados, bem como a influÃncia destes parÃmetros nas alteraÃÃes microestruturais, microdureza e resistÃncia à corrosÃo das juntas soldadas. Desta forma, dividiu-se este trabalho em trÃs etapas: A Etapa 1 consistiu na caracterizaÃÃo do metal de base na condiÃÃo como recebido. Jà na Etapa 2 foram realizadas soldagens por simples deposiÃÃo para selecionar os fatores de controle e seus nÃveis a serem utilizados na etapa posterior, e o planejamento experimental foi realizado pelo mÃtodo Taguchi com a Liga, GÃs, DBCP, TÃcnica da Tocha, Tecimento, TÃcnica de Energia e Energia foram utilizados como fatores de controle e como variÃveis de resposta escolheu-se a razÃo R/L, a penetraÃÃo, a fraÃÃo de ferrita, a fraÃÃo das inclusÃes e a microdureza. E por fim, na Etapa 3 foram realizadas soldagens multipasse em juntas e posteriormente efetuou-se: uma caracterizaÃÃo microestrutural em trÃs regiÃes da Zona Fundida (Raiz, Enchimento e Acabamento) e Zona Afetada pelo Calor atravÃs de Microscopia Ãtica (MO) e Microscopia EletrÃnica de Varredura (MEV) e Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva de Raios X (EDS); quantificaÃÃo da fraÃÃo de ferrita; quantificaÃÃo da fraÃÃo das inclusÃes; ensaios de microdureza e uma avaliaÃÃo da resistÃncia à corrosÃo por pites atravÃs dos ensaios de temperatura crÃtica de pite (CPT) seguindo a norma ASTM G150. Como resultados, obteve-se fraÃÃes de ferrita entre 44% e 54,9% com seus maiores valores observados quando utilizou-se a liga 2507, a energia de 1,6 kJ/mm e a corrente contÃnua pulsada. As menores fraÃÃes das inclusÃes foram obtidas pela utilizaÃÃo do gÃs de proteÃÃo com 96%Ar + 4%CO2 (Etapa 2) e da energia de 1,6kJ/mm (Etapa 3). As microdurezas na ZF das juntas nÃo apresentaram diferenÃas significativas. Jà os ensaios de CPT revelaram que os pites nuclearam preferencialmente no interior da α, nos contornos α/γ e nas interfaces entre inclusÃes de grande diÃmetro e a matriz metÃlica, propagando-se exclusivamente atravÃs da α. Os valores de CPT apresentaram uma faixa de 47ÂC à 78ÂC, com os maiores valores obtidos para a liga 2507, a energia de 1,6 kJ/mm e a corrente contÃnua constante na regiÃo da Raiz e nas regiÃes do Enchimento e Acabamento ao utilizar-se a liga 2507, a energia de 1,6 kJ/mm e a corrente contÃnua pulsada. Dentre as trÃs regiÃes das ZFs, a Raiz apresentou os melhores resultados com ausÃncia de defeitos, fraÃÃes de ferrita satisfatÃrias, menores fraÃÃes das inclusÃes e maiores valores de CPT.

Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) has found a wide use in demanding applications such as offshore, chemical and petrochemical industries thanks to its excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Welding of SDSS, however, is associated with the risk of precipitation of secondary phases and formation of excessive amounts of ferrite in the weld metal and heat affected zone. The present study was therefore aimed at gaining knowledge about the effect of multiple welding thermal cycles on the microstructure and possible sensitization to corrosion of welds in SDSS.Controlled and repeatable thermal cycles were produced by robotic welding. Oneto four autogenous TIG-remelting passes were applied on 2507 type SDSS plates using low or high heat inputs with pure argon as shielding gas. Thermal cycles were recorded using several thermocouples attached to the plates. Thermodynamic calculations and temperature field modelling were performed in order to understand the microstructural development and to predict the pitting corrosion resistance. Etching revealed the formation of different zones with characteristic microstructures: the fused weld zone (WZ) and the heat affected zone composed of the fusion boundary zone (FBZ), next to the fusion boundary, and further out Zone 1 (Z1) and Zone 2 (Z2). The WZ had a high content of ferrite and often nitrides which increased with increasing number of passes and decreasing heati nput. Nitrogen content of the WZ decreased from 0.28 wt.% to 0.17 wt.% after four passes of low heat input and to 0.10 wt.% after four passes of high heatinput. The FBZ was reheated to high peak temperatures (near melting point) and contained equiaxed ferrite grains with austenite and nitrides. Zone 1 was free from precipitates and the ferrite content was similar to that of the unaffected base material. Sigma phase precipitated only in zone 2, which was heated to peak temperatures in the range of approximately 828°C to 1028°C. The content of sigma phase increased with the number of passes and increasing heat input.  All locations, except Z1, were susceptible to local corrosion after multiplere heating. Thermodynamic calculations predicted that a post weld heat treatment could restore the corrosion resistance of the FBZ and Z2. However, the pitting resistance of the WZ cannot be improved significantly due to the nitrogen loss. Steady state and linear fitting approaches were therefore employed to predict nitrogen loss in autogenous TIG welding with argon as shielding gas. Two practical formulas were derived giving nitrogen loss as functions of initial nitrogen content and arc energy both predicting a larger loss for higher heat input and higher base material nitrogen content. A practical recommendation based on the present study is that it is beneficial to perform welding with a minimum number of passes even if this results in a higherheat input as multiple reheating strongly promotes formation of deleterious phases.