Compare the effect of AC and pulse current on the mechanical properties and microstructural of carbon steel whit austenitic stainless steel dissimilar joint

Austenitic stainless steel to carbon steel dissimilar joint is used in petrochemical, oil & gas and shipbuilding applications. In this study, the AC current and pulsed current was compare and the effect of current type on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of dissimilar joint of AISI 321 stainless steel to ASTM A57CL1 were studied. For this purpose, the GTAW process and ER 308L filler metal with diameter of 1.8 mm and argon protect gas were used. In order to study the microstructure and fracture surface of weld samples, optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used. In addition to investigate of mechanical properties of joint, the tensile, impact and hardness tests were used. The results showed that all samples were fractured from ASTM A537CL1 steel with a ductile manner during the tension test. In pulsed current technique the heat input decrease about 11 percent compare to continue current welding. The weld metal impact energy of pulsed and continues current were 200 J and 145 J respectively. The SEM micrographs of Charpy fracture surface of the weld metals were ductile manner but the dimples and Cavities of pulsed technique were finer than continues technique.