Effect of weld metal composition on impact toughness properties of shielded metal arc welded ultra-high hard armor steel joints

Abstract

Nowadays, ultra-high hard armor (UHA) steels are employed in armor tracked vehicle (ATV) construction because of their high hardness, high strength to weight ratio, and excellent toughness. UHA steels are usually welded using austenitic stainless steel (ASS) welding consumables, to avoid hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC). The use of ASS consumables to weld the above steel was the only available remedy because of higher solubility of hydrogen in the austenitic phase. In this investigation, an attempt was made to investigate the effect of ASS consumables (with different Creq/Nieq ratio) on solidification mode, impact toughness and microstructural characteristics of shielded metal arc (SMA) welded UHA steel joints. The welded joints were characterised based on impact toughness properties, hardness, and microstructural features. As the ferrite number increases with an increase in Creq/Nieq ratio result in different solidification mode (A, FA, F). It is also found that ferrite number of weld metal has appreciable influence on impact toughness and has inversely proportional relationship with impact toughness of the welded joints.

Keywords

• ultra-high hard armor steel
• shielded metal arc welding process
• austenitic stainless steel
• creq/nieq ratio
• ferrite number
• impact toughness