Effect of delta ferrite content on the corrosion resistance of type 316 clad metals

Austenitic claddings of type 316 were obtained by SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) and SAW (Submerged Arc Welding) processes, using type 316 L electrodes on low carbon boiler steel (SA 515 Gr 60) with type 309 L as a barrier layer deposited by the SAW process. Welding heat input was changed in order to obtain different ferrite contents in the cladding. The clad samples were post‐weld heat treated at 650°C for 50 and 200 h. The top layer of the cladding was removed and the specimens were then subjected to intergranular corrosion tests (ASTM A‐262‐75, practices A, B, C and E, viz. 10% oxalic acid electrolytic etch; ferric sulfate −50% sulfuric acid; 65% nitric acid and copper‐copper sulfate −16% sulfuric acid tests) and controlled potential etching test. The study indicated that the ferrite content of the cladding decreases with increasing current. Ferrite transformed after PWHT (post weld heat treatment) was relatively more in claddings obtained with low heat input and containing high ferrite content in the as‐clad condition. PWHT led to brittle fracture of high ferrite claddings (above 10 FN). The corrosion attack of ferrite was found to depend on environment. 65% nitric acid attacked ferrite preferentially, whereas in acid‐ferric sulfate, ferrite was intact and austenite was attacked. No sample exhibited susceptibility to intergranular corrosion in the as‐clad or PWHT conditions in the copper‐copper sulfate −16% acid test. However, PWHT specimens with low ferrite contents (3.55 FN) exhibited grain boundary precipitation at the interface of two adjacent layers. In general, ferrite was found to be beneficial in controlling corrosion rates of clad metals after PWHT. Heat input, within the range studied, did not affect the corrosion rates significantly. Copyright © 1988 Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim