CCI Valve Technology AB is a company located in Säffle, Sweden, that manufactures and installs bypass valves. Due to requirements outside normal standards on the valve's hardness values, some measurements have had difficulties meeting such requirements. During this thesis work, tests were carried out to determine how to overcome the difficulties. The experiments focused on five different areas that may affect the components hardness, welding method, soaking temperature during post weld heat treatment, measuring procedure, component thickness and number of heat treatment cycles. The Grade 91 steel specimens that were examined consisted of five solid cylinders and three various pipes that were welded together by using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) or gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Each pipe was sawed apart into three equal parts. All specimens were hardness tested and eight of the specimens' microstructure was studied with an optical microscope. The hardness measurement instruments used, LECO V-100-C2 and GE-MIC 10, are Vickers hardness testers, one stationary and the other one portable. The measuring results contain a vast number of different hardness measurement data. From the analyzed data, the conclusions were drawn that the most suitable soaking temperature during post weld heat treatment were 750° C, that the SMAW method creates a more stable hardness profile than the GTAW method, and that one heat treatment cycle is more beneficial than two or more.

This research investigated the residual stresses in narrow-gap API 5L X65 pipe girth welds in as-welded and after post weld heat treatment (PWHT) conditions. The PWHT included global furnace and local practices. Non-destructive neutron diffraction (ND) strain scanning was carried out on selected pipe spools and strainfree reference samples for the determination of the lattice spacing before and after PWHT. The as-welded and post-heat treatment residual stresses measured in the pipe spools were examined and compared. Experimental work also included full residual stress mapping in the weldment and through-thickness measurement at weld centre and close to the external and internal pipe surfaces. The measured profiles were compared with the recommendations given in British flaw assessment procedure BS 7910 "Guide to methods for assessing the acceptability of flaws in metallic structures" and the UK nuclear industry's R6 procedure. The design, preparation and experimental neutron diffraction measurement procedures for the determination of the strain-free lattice parameter in various configurations of reference samples and in the required directions were discussed. The variability of the lattice spacing in the reference samples was found depended on the specimen manufacture methods and thermal process. Welding residual stresses were also simulated using finite element analysis (FEA) modelling approach. The simulated thermal cycles and transient strains at specific locations were compared with the experimental readings. The residual stress profiles derived from finite element model were compared with the measurements from neutron diffraction. It was found, the measured and simulated, as-welded - residual stress profiles showed good consistency in terms of stress distribution and magnitude to reasonable extent. Measurement results also indicated that local PWHT was effective in reducing the residual stresses in the pipes to a level similar to that achieved by a global approach.

Many of the projects utilizing Grade 91 steel are large in scale, therefore it is necessary to assemble on site. The assembly of the major pieces often requires welding in the assembly; welding drastically changes the superior mechanical properties of Grade 91 steel that it was specifically developed for. Therefore, because of the adverse effects of welding on the mechanical properties of Grade 91, it is necessary to do a localized post weld heat treatment. In this study a localized post weld heat treatment is used to gather experimental data. The data is then used to derive unknown heat transfer coefficients that are necessary for theoretically modeling heat treatments. With the derived coefficients that have been found one can theoretically model heat treatment scenarios specific to the situations and provide results that are reliable and provide insight as to what parameters will provide the best results. This research is very beneficial to the joining of metals industry because it provides a way to ensure the method used to heat treat the welded section is being properly done, and the required heat treatment is achieved. It is applicable to many different geometries so that it can be modified to specific situations.

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[pt] Tradicionalmente, tanto os metais de solda, quanto os aço da classe Cr-Mo, são considerados susceptíveis ao fenômeno de fragilização ao revenido. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar metais de solda do tipo 2,25%Cr-1,0%Mo com diferentes teores de Mn (0,4% - 1,1%) obtidos pelo processo de eletrodo revestido submetidos aos tratamentos térmicos de alívio de tensões (TTAT), de step-cooling (TTSC) e TTAT seguido de TTSC. Verificou-se através de ensaios de impacto Charpy-V que o TTAT, promoveu um ganho de tenacidade e resistência para teores de Mn entre 0,9% - 1,1%, enquanto que a aplicação do TTSC não promoveu mudanças significativas na tenacidade para todos os teores estudados. Observou-se que, as variações microestruturais em função dos tratamentos térmicos aplicados para uma estrutura predominantementebainítica, detectáveis por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, foram pequenas para os teores de Mn estudados. A utilização dos índices tradicionais como o fator X , fator PE e fator J de susceptibilidade à fragilização se mostrou incompatível com as respostas obtidas nos ensaios de impacto dos metais de solda avaliados, sugerindo a necessidade de uma revisão dos fatores para a avaliação da tendência para a fragilização ou mesmo considerar que os materiais atualmente produzidos não sejam mais susceptíveis ao fenômeno fragilização ao revenido mesmo após tratamentos térmicos de alívio de tensões. / [en] Traditionally, both Cr-Mo class steels and the weld metals produced in joining such materials have been considered to be susceptible to the phenomenon of temper embrittlement. The current study evaluates 2,25%Cr-1,0%Mo type weld metals with varying Mn levels (0,4%- 1,1%), produced using coated electrodes with an SMAW process. The welded joints were subjected to three types of heat treatment; either stress relief annealing, or step cooling or stress relief annealing and step cooling. Charpy-V impact testing results indicated a gain in toughness and tensile strength for materials with Mn levels in the 0,9% to 1.1% range, and that the step cooling alone did not cause any appreciable changes in toughness for any of the Mn levels studied. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed that the bainitic microstructure of the materials studied was relatively little affected by the applied heat treatments. The values obtained for the traditional embrittlement indexes, X -Factor, PE-Factor and J-Factor were observed to be inconsistent and incompatible with the actual quantified impact behaviour of the weld metals investigated. This would suggest that a reevaluation of these traditional embrittlement indexes should be considered. The temper embrittlement susceptibility of steels of this type as they are currently manufactured may, in this way, come to be considered much lower than would otherwise be the case, even after post weld heat treatments.

Neste trabalho foram determinadas as condições para a soldagem de chapas grossas de aço carbono ASTM A36 com aço baixo-liga temperado e revenido ASTM A514 Grau Q empregando-se o processo arame tubular. Para tanto foram soldadas diversas peças de testes com o intuito de se avaliar as condições mais adequadas de preparação e soldagem de juntas dissimilares destes materiais. A preparação foi realizada por meio de corte térmico. A temperatura de preaquecimento foi determinada através de modelos matemáticos, pelas recomendações das normas AWS D1.1 e DIN EN 1011-2 sendo posteriormente avaliada por intermédio do teste de soldabilidade tipo CTS Controlled Thermal Severity. Os parâmetros de soldagem foram determinados a partir da qualificação de um procedimento de soldagem, conforme a norma AWS D1.1. Foram avaliadas as consequências do emprego do tratamento térmico de alívio de tensões após soldagem (TTAT), pelos testes de dureza Vickers e impacto Charpy. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada por meio de microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A caracterização das superfícies oxicortadas evidenciou os efeitos da descarbonetação e também da carbonetação. A temperatura de pré-aquecimento de 160°C determinada por meio da metodologia recomendada pelas normas AWS D1.1 e DIN EN 1011-2 mostrou-se satisfatória nos testes de soldabilidade. Foi possível a qualificação do procedimento de soldagem (EPS) com requisitos de impacto na condição \"como soldado\", porém na condição \"após TTAT\", os baixos valores de tenacidade obtidos no metal de solda, inferiores a 27J, não permitiram a qualificação de uma EPS com requisitos de impacto. Foi observada a ausência de trincas intergranulares tanto na zona afetada pelo calor quanto no metal de base ASTM A514, porém foi revelada a presença de microfases frágeis no metal de solda na condição \"como soldado\", especificamente na região da raiz, intensificadas pelo efeito da diluição. O aumento do teor de carbono na raiz, a presença de microfases frágeis, a grande fração de grãos colunares e de ferrita proeutetóide combinados com a baixa fração de ferrita acicular no metal de solda contribuíram para os baixos valores de tenacidade encontrados na condição \"como soldado\". Após o TTAT observou-se uma queda acentuada da tenacidade, inferior a 27J, do metal de solda devido à fragilização provocada pela precipitação e coalescimento de carbonetos de ferro. / In this work it was determined the conditions for welding thick plate of ASTM A36 carbon steel with quenched and tempered low-alloy steel ASTM A514 Grade Q employing the Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) process. For that several coupons of tests were welded in order to evaluate the most appropriate conditions for preparation and welding of these dissimilar materials. The preparation was carried out by means of thermal cutting. The preheat temperature was determined by mathematical models, the recommendations of standards AWS D1.1 and DIN EN 1011-2 being further evaluated using the CTS type weldability test - Controlled Thermal Severity. The welding parameters were determined by qualifying a welding procedure (WPS), according to AWS D1.1. The effects of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) were evaluated by Vickers hardness tests and Charpy. Microstructural characterization was performed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The characterization of oxi-fuel cut surfaces showed the effects of decarburization and also carburization. The preheating temperature of 160 °C determined by calculation and the methodology recommended by the standards was satisfactory in weldability tests. It was possible qualification of welding procedure (WPS) with impact requirements in the condition \"as welded\" but the condition \"after PWHT\" low toughness values obtained in the weld metal, less than 27J, did not allow to qualify a WPS with toughness requirements. The absence of intergranular cracking was observed in both the heat affected zone as the base metal ASTM A514, but the presence of fragile microphase in the weld metal was revealed in the weld metal in the condition \"as welded\" specifically in the root region, intensified by the effect of dilution. The carbon increase at root, the presence of fragile microphase, the large fraction of columnar grains and proeutectoid ferrite combined with the low fraction of acicular ferrite in the weld metal contributed to the low toughness values found in the condition \"as welded \". After PWHT there was a sharp drop in toughness, less than 27J, in the weld metal due to embrittlement caused by precipitation and coarsening of iron carbides.

Os aços Grau 91 vêm sendo amplamente utilizados como componentes para trabalhar em elevadas temperaturas nas indústrias de geração de energia, petroquímica e refinarias de petróleo em consequência da sua excelente resistência a fluência e corrosão em altas temperaturas. Apesar destas notáveis propriedades têm sido encontradas dificuldades na soldagem do aço Grau 91, visto que pode apresentar valores de dureza fora dos limites especificados e provocando redução de diversas propriedades mecânicas. Foram confeccionadas juntas tubulares do aço Grau 91, por meio de soldagem usando o processo TIG na raiz e o processo Eletrodo Revestido nas camadas de soldagem subsequentes. As juntas soldadas foram submetidas ao tratamento térmico póssoldagem (TTPS) a 760°C com diferentes tempos de patamar (1h, 4h e 8h) e posteriormente, as propriedades mecânicas foram analisadas para verificar o atendimento aos requisitos normativos, por meio da realização de ensaios de tração convencional e à quente (540°C), impacto Charpy, dureza Vickers e caracterização microestrutural. Os resultados mostraram que as propriedades mecânicas do aço Grau 91 sofreram alterações, como uma melhor resistência ao impacto e diminuição da dureza com o aumento do tempo de patamar de temperatura, indicando que é possível obter uma melhor combinação de resistência mecânica e tenacidade com o tempo de patamar maior do que 4 horas no TTPS nas condições utilizadas. / Grade 91 steels have been widely used as components to work at high temperatures in power generation plants, petrochemicals and oil refineries as a result of their excellent creep and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Despite these remarkable properties, difficulties in welding Grade 91 have been encountered, as they may exhibit hardness values outside the specified limits and cause a reduction in various mechanical properties. Grade 91 tubular joints were made through welding by using the GTAW process at the root and the SMAW process in the subsequent welding layers. The welded joints were subjected to PWHT at 760°C with different tempering times (1h, 4h and 8h) and their mechanical properties were evaluated by performing conventional tensile, elevated-temperature tensile (540°C), Charpy V-notch impact toughness, Vickers hardness testing and microstructural characterization. Results indicated that mechanical properties of grade 91 steel change with increasing tempering time, and a better combination of strength and toughness can be reached with more than 4 hours of PWHT, under certain conditions.

Os aços Grau 91 vêm sendo amplamente utilizados como componentes para trabalhar em elevadas temperaturas nas indústrias de geração de energia, petroquímica e refinarias de petróleo em consequência da sua excelente resistência a fluência e corrosão em altas temperaturas. Apesar destas notáveis propriedades têm sido encontradas dificuldades na soldagem do aço Grau 91, visto que pode apresentar valores de dureza fora dos limites especificados e provocando redução de diversas propriedades mecânicas. Foram confeccionadas juntas tubulares do aço Grau 91, por meio de soldagem usando o processo TIG na raiz e o processo Eletrodo Revestido nas camadas de soldagem subsequentes. As juntas soldadas foram submetidas ao tratamento térmico póssoldagem (TTPS) a 760°C com diferentes tempos de patamar (1h, 4h e 8h) e posteriormente, as propriedades mecânicas foram analisadas para verificar o atendimento aos requisitos normativos, por meio da realização de ensaios de tração convencional e à quente (540°C), impacto Charpy, dureza Vickers e caracterização microestrutural. Os resultados mostraram que as propriedades mecânicas do aço Grau 91 sofreram alterações, como uma melhor resistência ao impacto e diminuição da dureza com o aumento do tempo de patamar de temperatura, indicando que é possível obter uma melhor combinação de resistência mecânica e tenacidade com o tempo de patamar maior do que 4 horas no TTPS nas condições utilizadas. / Grade 91 steels have been widely used as components to work at high temperatures in power generation plants, petrochemicals and oil refineries as a result of their excellent creep and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Despite these remarkable properties, difficulties in welding Grade 91 have been encountered, as they may exhibit hardness values outside the specified limits and cause a reduction in various mechanical properties. Grade 91 tubular joints were made through welding by using the GTAW process at the root and the SMAW process in the subsequent welding layers. The welded joints were subjected to PWHT at 760°C with different tempering times (1h, 4h and 8h) and their mechanical properties were evaluated by performing conventional tensile, elevated-temperature tensile (540°C), Charpy V-notch impact toughness, Vickers hardness testing and microstructural characterization. Results indicated that mechanical properties of grade 91 steel change with increasing tempering time, and a better combination of strength and toughness can be reached with more than 4 hours of PWHT, under certain conditions.

Atualmente, há a necessidade de se desenvolver aços com alta resistência à propagação de trincas, especialmente em condições de carregamentos cíclicos, ou seja, resistentes à fadiga, na qual sua aplicabilidade se da em função de suas propriedades mecânicas. No presente trabalho estudou-se o efeito do preaquecimento na zona afetada pelo calor do aço AISI/SAE 4130 com composição química modificada, com altos teores de Mo, comparando as propriedades mecânicas e microestruturais nas condições como soldada, tratada termicamente e aplicando a técnica de Metodologia do Preaquecimento Combinado (MPC) com otimização de ciclos térmicos através da combinação do preaquecimento entre o 1º e 3º passe da 1º e 2º camada, respectivamente. A fim de avaliar as propriedades mecânicas, foram realizados ensaios de microdureza, mapeamento de dureza e ensaio de tenacidade ao impacto charpy. Para análise microestrutural, foi realizado microscopia ótica e microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV) para analisar as regiões de grãos grosseiros, fino e as intersecções entre as regiões da Zona Afetada pelo Calor (ZAC), quando aplicado o MPC. Como resultado, observa-se que preaquecimento é uma forma efetiva de redução de dureza, chegando a uma redução máxima de 71 HV0,1, quando comparado às temperaturas de preaquecimento entre 150 e 400 ºC. No entanto há um severo efeito deletério na tenacidade, podendo chegar a uma queda de 71% da energia absorvida. O tratamento térmico pós soldagem (TTPS) se mostrou eficiente apenas para amostra soldada com temperaturas de preaquecimento de 150 ºC, para as demais temperaturas não houve benefício, tanto em redução de dureza, quanto na restauração da tenacidade. No entanto, para temperatura de preaquecimento de 230 ºC também foi observado o acréscimo de dureza após o TTPS devido ao efeito de endurecimento secundário por precipitação de carbonetos metálicos (MC). A técnica MPC se mostrou muito eficiente em redução da dureza e restauração da tenacidade, e este fenômeno está associado à capacidade de solubilizar os carbonetos que precipitam durante a soldagem, fenômeno que não ocorre com a aplicação do TTPS. / Currently, it is necessary to develop materials with high resistance to crack propagation, especially under conditions of cyclic loading condition such as fatigue resistant, in which its applicability is due to its mechanical properties. In the present work the effect of preheating in the heat-affected zone of the AISI / SAE 4130 steel with modified chemical composition (High Mo) was compared, regarding its mechanical and microstructural properties of each welding condition, As weld, post weld heat treated and applying the Methodology of combined preheating (MCP) with optimization of thermal cycles by combining the preheating between the 1st pass of 1st layer and the 3rd pass of 2nd layer. In order to evaluate the mechanical properties, microhardness tests, hardness mapping and charpy V notch tests were performed. For microstructural analysis, optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the coarse grained regions and the intersections between the Heat Affected Zones (HAZ) regions, when applied to the MPC. As a result, it is observed that preheating is an effective form of reduction of hardness, reaching a maximum reduction of 71 HV0,1, when compared to the preheating temperatures between 150 and 400ºC, however there is a severe deleterious effect in the toughness, dropping up to 71% of the absorbed energy. The post weld heat treatment (PWHT) is efficient only for welded sample with preheating temperatures of 150 ºC, for the other temperatures there was no benefit, either in reduction of hardness or restoration of toughness. However, for the preheating temperature of 230 °C it was observed the increase of hardness after the PWHT due to the effect of secondary hardening by precipitation of metal carbides (MC). The MPC technique proved to be very efficient in decreasing hardness and restoring toughness, and this phenomenon is associated with the ability to solubilize the carbides that precipitate during welding, which is not observed while PWHT is applied.