Heat Input Effect on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Shielded Metal Arc Welding of Dissimilar AISI 316L/St-37 Steel

Joining of stainless steels to carbon steels is one of the most widely used types of dissimilar joints. In this research, the microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar shielded metal arc welding of austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L to carbon steel St-37 is studied. This joining has made by E316L electrode and three heat inputs of 0.72, 0.84 and 1.0 kJ/mm. The microstructure of the joints was characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated by tensile and microhardness tests. The solidification microstructure of the weld metals contained mainly austenite and some skeletal delta ferrite. There was an epitaxial growth at the interface of the weld metal with the AISI 316L steel HAZ, and at the interface of the weld metal with the St-37 HAZ, there is an un-etched narrow area which is suggested to have austenitic-martensitic structure. The results of hardness tests showed that the hardness of the interface of the weld metal with the St-37 steel was maximum which is attributed to the formation of the martensitic narrow band. The longitudinal tensile results showed that the increasing of the heat input decreaes the tensile strength and increases the elongation of the joints.