Title: Flux-bounded TIG welding process in duplex stainless steel: a performance enhancement study

Authors: Dipali Pandya; Amarish Badgujar; Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi; Nilesh D. Ghetiya

Addresses: School of Engineering and Technology, Navrachana University, Vadodara – 391410, Gujarat, India ' School of Engineering and Technology, Navrachana University, Vadodara – 391410, Gujarat, India ' Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha – 62529, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Abstract: A new variant of activated tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding is flux-bounded tungsten inert gas (FB-TIG) welding. The present study explores the nature of flux gap and variation of flux as a single component over the geometry of weld bead in 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) FB-TIG weld joint. Significant improvement in penetration depth is observed at the flux gap at 2 mm with SiO₂ flux, which is 193% higher than the TIG weld. Constriction of the arc is a predominant mechanism responsible for high penetration depth. Along with this, the article discusses the variation of welding current as a heat input over weld bead geometry, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The peak value of tensile strength of the FB-TIG weld is 10% higher than the TIG weld metal. However, the maximum microhardness of FB-TIG weld metal is 2% less than that of TIG weld metal.

Keywords: tungsten inner gas; flux-bounded TIG welding; duplex stainless steel; DSS ; microstructure; tensile strength; microhardness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2023.133373

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2023 Vol.14 No.3, pp.244 - 257

Received: 14 Jun 2022
Accepted: 09 Jul 2022
Published online: 14 Sep 2023 *

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