AN INVESTIGATION ON STAINLESS STEEL CLADDING OF STRUCTURAL STEEL PLATE USING PULSED CURRENT GMAW PROCESS

Abstract

Stainless steel cladding of a structural steel has been produced by weld overlay process using continuous and pulsed current GMAW. The geometry, chemical composition- and microstructure of the overlay are studied. Microstructure across the interface of the overlay to base material has -also-been studied-An-i-n- ter-actedlay_er-ofhigh hardness has been found to form in the region of-stainless-steel overlay close to its interface with base- material-. The weld characteristics including the hardness ofthe overlay and interacted layer.observed in case ofpulsed current welding has been compared-to=those ofthe conventional-continuous current welding. The investigation is finally concluded_ showing-some beneficial -effects. ofpulsed-cur-r-ent GMA-W-overthe-continuous=current GMAW, in reference to better deposition, lower dilution, lower penetration, higher hardness of overlay and lower hardness of interacted layer in comparison to those observed in case of the stainless steel overlay produced by continuous current GM-AW- -process.