EFFECT OF DELTA FERRITE CONTENT ON THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF TYPE 316 CLAD METALS.

Austenitic cladding 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 degree 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).