Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Austenitic Stainless-Steel Pipes Welded by TIG Method

Abstract

This paper investigates the mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steel (type 204) pipes welded by Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process. Testing of hardness (HRC), tensile strength and bending strength was performed for the steel pipes welded at two different welding temperatures (700 °C and 900 °C) with and without using the weld filler wire. The microstructure of the welding regions was examined by using an optical microscopy. The properties showed that the steel pipes welded by 900 °C with using the weld filler obtained the highest tensile strength and bending strength versus these welded by 700 °C without the use of the weld filler. This is attributed to the weld filler heated and melt at sufficient temperature (900 °C) and compensate losing in the Ni metal occurred in the base steel metal during the welding process.