L'objectif de ce travail de thèse, est de développer un matériau d'apport et un mode opératoire de soudage associé permettant d'assembler des tôles d'acier K44X pour la fabrication de collecteurs d'échappement automobiles. Les propriétés de l'acier K44X ayant été optimisées pour répondre au mieux aux contraintes de l'application, les conditions de soudage recherchées devront, dans la mesure du possible, éviter de dégrader les caractéristiques de l'acier, en particulier en termes de tenue mécanique à haute température et de résistance à l'oxydation et à la fatigue thermique. Ce mémoire est divisé en quatre chapitres. Le premier chapitre est consacré à une présentation synthétique des évolutions dans le domaine de la fabrication des collecteurs d'échappement automobiles, et des connaissances actuelles dans les domaines des aciers inoxydables ferritiques et sa soudabilité, des procédés de soudage à l'arc. Le second chapitre présente les caractéristiques de l'acier K44X et la problématique de l'étude, puis décrit le travail d'élaboration des matériaux d'apport de différentes compositions. Ainsi que les résultats d'une caractérisation préliminaire des soudures obtenues avec les différents matériaux. Le chapitre 3 traite de la caractérisation de la tenue en service de l'assemblage retenu à l'issu du chapitre précédent. Les tests d'oxydation, de traction à chaud sur zone fondue des soudures ou sur assemblages complets, et de fatigue thermique, utilisés pour réaliser cette caractérisation sont décrits, et les résultats sont discutés. La fin de ce chapitre est consacrée à la caractérisation des précipités formés dans les zones fondues. Enfin, le dernier chapitre est consacré à la modélisation thermique du soudage et à la modélisation de la solidification, dans le but de tenter de prédire le type de microstructure de zone fondue formée lors d'une opération de soudage, en fonction des paramètres procédés. Cette modélisation, qui s'appuie sur les résultats d'un essai de soudage instrumenté, doit notamment permettre de prédire si les conditions de soudage, pour une composition d'acier donnée, permettent ou non de former une structure de grains équiaxe en zone fondue des soudures. / The objective of this work is to develop a filler metal and an associated welding procedure allowing to join sheets of steels K44X for the manufacturing of exhaust manifolds for automotive. The properties of the steel K44X having been optimized to answer at best the constraints of the application, the welding conditions will have to, as possible, avoid degrading the characteristics of the steel, in particular in terms of mechanical strength with high temperature, oxidation resistance and in thermal fatigue.This report is divided into four chapters.The first chapter is dedicated to a synthetic presentation of the evolutions in the field of the manufacturing of the automotive exhaust manifolds, and current knowledge in the domains of ferritic stainless steels and its weldability, and in arc welding processes.The second chapter presents the characteristics of the steel K44X and the problem of the study, then described the work of elaboration of the filler metals with various compositions. As well as the results of a preliminary characterization of the welds obtained with the various materials.The chapter 3 is about the characterization of the in-service behavior of the assembly stemming from the previous chapter. The tests of oxidation, hot traction on molten zone of the welds or on complete assemblies, and of thermal fatigue, used to realize this characterization are described, and the associated results are discussed. The end of this chapter is dedicated to the characterization of precipitates formed in the molten zones.Finally, the last chapter is dedicated to the thermal modelling of the welding and to the modelling of the solidification, with the aim of trying to predict the type of microstructure of molten zone formed during a welding operation, according to the process parameters. This modelling, based on the results of a instrumented experimental test of welding, has to allow in particular to predict if the welding conditions, for a given composition of steel, allow or not to form a structure of grains equiaxed in molten zone of the welds.

Grade 91 (Gr.91) is a common structural material used in boiler applications and is favored due to its high temperature creep strength and oxidation resistance. Under cyclic stresses, the material will experience creep deformation eventually causing the propagation of type IV cracks within its heat-affected-zone (HAZ) which can be a major problem under short-term and long-term applications. In this study, we aim to improve this premature failure by performing a computational thermodynamic study through the Calculation of Phase Diagram (CALPHAD) approach. Under this approach, we have provided a baseline study as well as simulations based on additional alloying elements such as manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and titanium (Ti). Our simulation results have concluded that high concentrations of Mn and Ni had destabilized M23C6 for short-term creep failure, while Ti had increased the beneficial MX phase, and low concentrations of nitrogen (N) had successfully destabilized Z-phase formation for long-term creep failure.

The report examines the factors which may be a contributing cause to the problems that are present when ferritic stainless steel are eddy current tested in a warm condition. The work is carried out at Fagersta Stainless AB in Fagersta which manufactures stainless steel wire. In the rolling mill there is an eddy current equipment for detection of surface defects on the wire. The ferritic stainless steels cause a noise when testing and this noise complicates the detection of defects.Because of this, a study was made of how the noise related to factors such as steel grade, temperature, size and velocity. By observing the signal and with the possibilities to change the equipment settings the capability to let a signal filter reduce the noise level were evaluated. Theories about the material's physical properties have also been included, mainly the magnetic properties, electrical conductivity and the material's tendency to oxidize.Results from the tests show that a number of factors do not affect the inductive test significantly and to use a filter to reduce the noise level does not seem to be a viable option. The level of noise does not relate to the presence of superficial particles in form of oxides.The ferritic stainless steels showed some difference in noise level. Which noise level there was did match well with the steels probability for a precipitation of a second phase, and precipitation of austenite may in this case contribute to noise when using an eddy current instrument.The noise is probably due to some physical material property that varies within the thread.

The formation of nano–sized precipitates is considered to be the origin of hardening and embrittlement of ferritic steel used as structural material for pressure vessels of nuclear reactors, since these nanoclusters hinder the motion of dislocations within the grains of the polycrystalline bcc–Fe matrix. Previous investigations showed that these small precipitates are coherent and may consist of Cu, Ni, other foreign atoms, and vacancies. In this work a combination of on–lattice simulated annealing based on Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations and off–lattice relaxation by Molecular Dynamics is applied in order to determine the structure, energetics and thermodynamics of coherent clusters in bcc–Fe. The most recent interatomic potentials for Fe–Cu–Ni alloys are used. The atomic structure and the formation energy of the most stable configurations as well as their total and monomer binding energy are calculated. Atomistic simulation results show that pure (vacancy and copper) as well as mixed (vacancy-copper, copper-nickel and vacancy-copper-nickel) clusters show facets which correspond to the main crystallographic planes. Besides facets, mixed clusters exhibit a core-shell structure. In the case of v_lCu_m, a core of vacancy cluster coated with copper atoms is found. In binary Cum_Ni_n, Ni atoms cover the outer surface of copper cluster. Ternary v_lCu_mNi_n clusters show a core–shell structure with vacancies in the core coated by a shell of Cu atoms, followed by a shell of Ni atoms. It has been shown qualitatively that these core–shell structures are formed in order to minimize the interface energy between the cluster and the bcc-Fe matrix. Pure nickel consist of an agglomeration of Ni atoms at second nearest neighbor distance, whereas vacancy-nickel are formed by a vacancy cluster surrounded by a nickel agglomeration. Both types of clusters are called quasi-cluster because of their non-compact structure. The atomic configurations of quasiclusters can be understood by the peculiarities of the binding between Ni atoms and vacancies. In all clusters investigated Ni atoms may be nearest neighbors of Cu atoms but never nearest neighbors of vacancies or other Ni atoms. The structure of the clusters found in the present work is consistent with experimental observations and with results of pairwise calculations. In agreement with experimental observations and with recent results of atomic kinetic Monte Carlo simulation it is shown that the presence of Ni atoms promotes the nucleation of clusters containing vacancies and Cu. For pure vacancy and pure copper clusters an atomistic nucleation model is established, and for typical irradiation conditions the nucleation free energy and the critical size for cluster formation have been estimated. For further application in rate theory and object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations compact and physically–based fit formulae are derived from the atomistic data for the total and the monomer binding energy. The fit is based on the structure of the clusters (core-shell and quasi-cluster) and on the classical capillary model.

Dual-phase (DP) steels consisting of a ferrite matrix with dispersed martensite particles have attracted a significant interest due to their combination of high work hardening and ductility. A great deal of experimental work has been done to obtain a better comprehension of the relation of their mechanical behaviour to their microstructural characteristics. In the present work, a micromechanical study of ferrite-martensite DP steels is conducted. The deformation of ferrite is described by a rate-dependent crystal plasticity theory, which relates the stress-strain field equations on the grain level to the macroscopic behaviour of the material. The crystal plasticity theory assumes that slip is the only deformation mechanism. Martensite, on the other hand, is considered an elastic-plastic isotropic solid. The interfaces of the grains are taken into account through an idealized form of grain boundaries. A FORTRAN program was coupled with the finite element method to solve the stress equations of the crystal plasticity. Including the grain boundaries made it possible to examine the effect of ferrite grain size on the strength of the material. It is shown that by decreasing the grain size, the yield stress increases according to Hall-Petch equation. Additionally, the effects of the volume fraction of martensite (Vm) on the onset strain, i.e. the strain at which martensite deforms plastically, and of the distribution of martensite on the stress are studied. The former showed that the onset strain of the DP steel declines linearly with increasing Vm up to 36%, beyond which the onset strain becomes independent of V m. The latter revealed that when martensite particles are formed as islands in the ferrite grains, the material exhibits higher strength and hardening rate; compared to when martensite is distributed as large blocks among the ferrite grains.

Stainless steels are very important engineering materials in a variety of applications such as in the food industry and nuclear power plants due to their combination of good mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance. However, ferrite-containing stainless steels are sensitive to the so-called ‘475°C embrittlement’, which is induced by phase separation of the ferrite phase, where it decomposes into Fe-rich ferrite (α) and Cr-rich ferrite (α'). The phase separation is accompanied with a severe loss of toughness. Therefore, the upper service temperature of ferrite-containing stainless steels in industrial applications has been limited to around 250°. In the present work, Fe-Cr based steels were mainly investigated by atom probe tomography. A new method based on the radial distribution function (RDF) was proposed to quantitatively evaluate both the wavelength and amplitude of phase separation in Fe-Cr alloys from the atom probe tomography data. Moreover, a simplified equation was derived to calculate the amplitude of phase separation. The wavelength and amplitude was compared with evaluations using the auto-correlation function (ACF) and Langer-Bar-on-Miller (LBM) method, respectively. The results show that the commonly used LBM method underestimates the amplitude of phase separation and the wavelengths obtained by RDF shows a good exponential relation with aging time which is expected from the theory. The RDF is also an effective method in detecting the phenomena of clustering and elemental partitioning. Furthermore, atom probe tomography and the developed quantitative analysis method have been applied to investigate the influence of different factors on the phase separation in Fe-Cr based alloys by the help of mainly mechanical property tests and atom probe tomography analysis. The study shows that: (1) the external tensile stress during aging enhances the phase separation in ferrite. (2) Phase separation in weld bead metals decomposes more rapidly than both the heat-affected-zone metals and the base metals mainly due to the high density of dislocations in the welding bead metals which could facilitate the diffusion. (3) The results show that Ni and Mn can enhance the phase separation comparing to the binary Fe-Cr alloy whereas Cu forms clusters during aging. (4) Initial clustering of Cr atoms was found after homogenization. Two factors, namely, clustering of Cr above the miscibility gap and clustering during quenching was suggested as the two responsible mechanisms. (5) The homogenization temperatures significantly influence the evolution of phase separation in Fe-46.5at.%Cr. / <p>QC 20140910</p> / Spinodal Project

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Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-17T15:03:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JAIME MATIAS DA SILVA NETO- DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 3496418 bytes, checksum: 6c6b6ae8738da4d0e77cbcedcb6bb9d6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T15:03:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JAIME MATIAS DA SILVA NETO- DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 3496418 bytes, checksum: 6c6b6ae8738da4d0e77cbcedcb6bb9d6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-27 / CNPq / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da aplicação de vibração mecânica durante o processo da soldagem sobre o refino de grãos em metais de solda obtidos na soldagem do aço ASTM A516 Gr.60, aplicado em caldeiras e vasos de pressão. Para o tratamento de vibração mecânica foi utilizado o processo VWC (Condicionamento de Soldagem Vibratória), e para a soldagem foram empregados dois tipos de processos: SMAW (Arco Elétrico com Eletrodo Revestido) e GMAW (Soldagem ao arco elétrico com proteção gasosa). Os consumíveis utilizados foram o arame AWS ER 70S-6 com 1,2 mm de diâmetro protegido com CO2 no processo GMAW e o eletrodo AWS E7018 com 2,25 mm de diâmetro no processo SMAW. Foi projetada e desenvolvida uma bancada vibratória para realização dos experimentos. As juntas foram executadas sem e com vibração, submetidas a amplitudes que variaram de 7,2 a 51,2 m/s2 e frequências de 205 a 220 Hz. A vibração promoveu uma melhor distribuição da microestrutura no metal de solda, promovendo um refino de até 113% para uma amplitude de 51,2 m/s2 e frequência de 220 Hz no processo GMAW, em relação a condição sem vibração. Já no processo SMAW a redução chegou a 25% com amplitude de 7,2 m/s2 e frequência de 205 Hz. As reduções nos desvios padrões médios de dureza chegaram a 71% para uma amplitude de 48,9 m/s2 e frequência de 215 Hz, no processo GMAW. Enquanto que no processo SMAW, o desvio padrão médio de microdureza reduziu 27%, com amplitude 7,2 m/s2 e frequência de 205 Hz, em relação a condição sem vibração. / The present work had the objective of evaluating the influence of mechanical vibration during the welding process on grain refining in brazing metals obtained in the welding of steel ASTM A516 Gr.60, applied in boilers and pressure vessels. For the mechanical vibration treatment VWC (Vibration Welding Conditioning) process was used.. , The welds were done using the SMAW (Electric Arc with Coated Electrode) and GMAW (Electric Arc Welding with Gaseous Protection) process. AWS ER 70S-6 wire with 1.2 mm of diameter protected with CO2 in the GMAW process and the electrode E7018 with 2.25 mm of diameter in the process SMAW were used as consumable. A vibratory bed was designed and developed to perform the experiments. The joints were performed without and with vibration, subjected to amplitudes ranging from 7.2 to 51.2 m/s2 and frequencies from 205 to 220 Hz. The vibration promoted a better distribution of the microstructure in the weld metal, promoting a refining of up to 113% for an amplitude of 51.2 m/s2 and a frequency of 220 Hz in the GMAW process, in relation to the condition without vibration. In the SMAW process the reduction reached 25% with amplitude 7.2 m/s2 and frequency of 205 Hz. The reductions in the average hardness standard deviations reached 71% for a range of 48.9 m/s2 and a frequency of 215 Hz, in the GMAW process. Using the SMAW process, the mean standard deviation of microhardness value decreased by 27%, with amplitude 7.2 m/s2 and a frequency of 205 Hz, in relation to the condition without vibration.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The use of active flux in TIG process can be an alternative to increase the productivity since this technique increases the depth of penetration of weld bead maintaining the same parameters of conventional TIG welding. The results obtained indicate that the use of the traditional way of flux application tend to produce slag, which is hard to remove. In order to avoid this problem, are approach is by applying two flux strips alongside the joint, separated by a predetermined distance, defined as parameter \"a\". This technique is called Contraction Controlled Technique (CCT). The result with this methodology was satisfactory, allowing increasing the depth of penetration and ensuring a good weld bead surface finish. The objective of this research is to verify and analyze the influence of the use of Contraction Controlled Technique with the A-TIG process in the welding of ferritic stainless steel. It also aims to identify and quantify the main phenomena involved such as increase of the penetration, the changes in the arc, and changes in mechanical and metallurgical properties of the ferritic steel. For this purpose, it were done welding of ferritic stainless steels surfaces using the Contraction Controlled Technique, varying the width of the parameter \"a\", the distance between the piece and the electrode, the electrical current and welding speed. It was observed that the geometry of the weld beads has suffered modifications such as reduction in width and increased of the penetration of the weld beads for all cases where the active flux was used. The use of the active flux in TIG welding process is a technique that allows the increased of penetration depth of weld maintain keeping the same parameters used in the conventional TIG. However, it was not possible to increase the speed of the welding within the parameters used. When it was employed the technique of controlled contraction in a disalignment joint, the data showed that it is possible to improve results of arc direction, direct it to the edge of the board, using active flux and modifing both the parameter \"a\" and the deviation of the torch (dt). The application of this technique did not cause changes in the toughness or in the microstructure of the fusion zone the ferritic stainless steel. / O uso de fluxo ativo no processo de soldagem TIG pode ser uma alternativa para aumentar a velocidade de soldagem do processo, pois esta técnica permite o aumento da profundidade de penetração do cordão de solda mantendo os mesmo parâmetros empregados no TIG convencional. A principal desvantagem desta técnica reside principalmente na propensão à formação de uma camada oxidada sobre o cordão de solda o que pode também acarretar num acabamento superficial ruim. Uma forma de tirar proveito desta técnica garantindo um bom acabamento do cordão é aplicar o fluxo de tal maneira que, ao invés de uma camada que cubra toda a superfície da chapa, sejam feitas duas faixas de fluxo, separadas por uma distância predeterminada, definida como parâmetro a . Esta técnica é chamada neste trabalho de Técnica da Constrição Controlada (TCC). Desta forma, a camada de fluxo isola eletricamente certas regiões da superfície da peça direcionando a região de incidência do arco e, como a diluição do fluxo na poça de solda é menor, alia-se a vantagem do aumento de penetração com o bom acabamento do cordão de solda. O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar e analisar a influência do uso da Técnica da Constrição Controlada com o processo A-TIG na soldagem do aço inoxidável ferrítico; identificar e quantificar os principais fenômenos envolvidos como, aumento da penetração, alterações no arco voltaico e as possíveis modificações nas propriedades mecânicas e metalúrgicas do aço ferrítico. Para isso, realizou-se a soldagem do aço inoxidável ferrítico empregando a técnica da constrição controlada variando-se a largura do parâmetro a , a distância eletrodo-peça, a corrente de soldagem e a velocidade de soldagem. Foi possível observar que a geometria do cordão de solda sofre modificações como redução na largura e aumento da penetração do cordão de solda para todos os casos em que se empregou o fluxo ativo. Porém, não foi possível um aumento da velocidade de soldagem com os parâmetros empregados. Quando empregada a Técnica da Constrição Controlada em uma junta desalinhada, os dados comprovaram que é possível conseguir resultados de desvios satisfatórios no arco, ou seja, direcioná-lo para a borda da junta, com a utilização de fluxo ativo e a modificação tanto do parâmetro a quanto do desalinhamento na tocha (dt). A aplicação desta técnica não provocou alterações nem na tenacidade nem na microestrutura da zona fundida. / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica