Process Window for Nd:YAG Laser Welding of Super Duplex Stainless Steel

• Published in: Journal of Russian laser research Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 575 - 584
• Main Authors: Sivagurumanikandan, N., Saravanan, S., Sivakumar, G., Raghukandan, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.11.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alloy steels; Defocusing; Duplex stainless steels; Heat affected zone; Laser beam welding; Lasers; Macrostructure; Microwaves; Neodymium lasers; Optical Devices; Optics; Parameter identification; Penetration; Photonics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Process parameters; RF and Optical Engineering; Semiconductor lasers; Stainless steel; Tensile strength; Welded joints; Welding parameters; YAG lasers; process window; strength; laser welding; parameters; SDSS
• ISSN: 1071-2836; 1573-8760
• DOI: 10.1007/s10946-018-9754-9

Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS), an advanced duplex stainless steel with higher alloying concentration, is employed widely in acidic atmospheres. In this study, we make an attempt to develop a process window for the pulsed mode Nd:YAG laser welding of SDSS, as reference maps, to identify the range of process parameters viz., laser power, welding speed, defocusing distance, and pulse frequency for obtaining a defect free full penetration welds. The eminence of the welds, based on the macrostructure, microstructure, and tensile strength, is reported. We obtain a complete penetration weld devoid of undercut, crating at the top and minimum heat affected zone (HAZ) with a overlapping factor of 80–90% and heat input at 100–200 J/mm. The experimental settings prevailing inside the preferred region of the process window exhibit a higher tensile strength as well.