Effect of Pre-Weld Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Properties of Coarse-Grained Heat-Affected Zone of a Wind Power Steel after Simulated Welding

Autor: Zhixing Wang, Xuelin Wang, Chengjia Shang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Metals, Vol 14, Iss 5, p 587 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 14050587
2075-4701
DOI: 10.3390/met14050587
Popis: The effect of pre-weld heat treatment on the microstructure and low-temperature impact toughness of the coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) after simulated welding was systematically investigated through the utilization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). The Charpy impact test validated the presence of an optimal pre-weld heat treatment condition, resulting in the highest impact toughness observed in the CGHAZ. Three temperatures for pre-weld heat treatment (690, 720 and 750 °C) were used to obtain three different matrices (Steel 1, Steel 2, Steel 3) for simulated welding. The optimal pre-weld heat treatment is 720 °C for 15 min followed by water quench. Microstructure characterization showed that there is an evident microstructure comprising bainite (B) in Steel 1 and Steel 2 after pre-weld heat treatment, while the addition of martensite (M) with the pre-weld heat treatment temperature exceeds Ac1 by almost 60 °C (Steel 3). These differences in microstructures obtained from pre-weld heat treatment influence the refinement of high-temperature austenite during subsequent simulated welding reheating processes, resulting in distinct microstructural characteristics in the CGHAZ. After the optimal pre-weld heat treatment, Steel 2 subjected to single-pass welding thermal simulation demonstrates a refined microstructure characterized by a high density of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) within the CGHAZ, particularly evident in block boundaries. These boundaries effectively prevent the propagation of brittle cracks, thereby enhancing the impact toughness.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals