Selection of filler wire for and effect of auto tempering on the mechanical properties of dissimilar metal joint between 403 and 304L(N) stainless steels

Weldability of the dissimilar weld joint between austenitic 304L(N) stainless steel (SS) and martensitic 403 SS made by gas tungsten arc welding process using ERNiCr-3 filler metal has been studied. For this study, 12 mm thick plates of these two materials were joined using a K-type weld groove joint, with the straight edge on the 403 SS side buttered using ERNiCr-3 filler wire. Two types of weld joints were prepared—one using as-buttered 403 SS and the other one with buttered and post-weld heat-treated 403 SS plate. The joint made with the as-buttered 403 SS plate exhibits good bend ductility and toughness on the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the 403 SS side and it is comparable with that of the buttered and post-weld heat-treated 403SS weld joint properties. Thus, buttering of the 403 SS plate enabled dissimilar welding with the 304L(N) SS plate without any post-weld heat treatment because of auto tempering of the martensite present in the 403 SS HAZ formed due to weld thermal cycle.