The Microstructure and Pitting Corrosion Behavior of K-TIG Welded Joints of the UNS S32101 Duplex Stainless Steel

In this paper, the microstructure and pitting corrosion resistance of S32101 duplex stainless steel keyhole tungsten inert gas welded joints with different heat inputs were studied. The electrochemical experiments were conducted in a 1 mol/L NaCl solution at room temperature. The pitting rupture potential of the heat affected zone and the weld metal zone under different heat inputs were tested. The research showed that with the increase of heat inputs, more ferrite was converted to austenite and the number and size of intragranular austenite grains in the weld metal zone increased. The austenite content of the heat affected zone and the weld metal zone increase with the increase of heat inputs, and the CrN and Cr₂N in the heat affected zone and the weld metal zone were mainly precipitated in the ferrite, in the austenite and ferrite/austenite interfaces. The pitting rupture potential value of the heat affected zone and the weld metal zone were increased with the increase of heat inputs, and the pitting corrosion resistance of the heat affected zone and weld metal zone were also increased with the increase of heat inputs. The relationship between the position CrN and Cr₂N, the austenite content and the pitting corrosion resistance were elucidated, and the initiation mechanism of the pitting was investigated. Additionally, in this work, the heat affected zone and weld metal zone made at 2.46 kJ/mm heat inputs had the best pitting corrosion resistance. The research results provided useful information for improving the pitting corrosion resistance of S32101 duplex stainless steel keyhole tungsten inert gas welded joints.