Effect of Welding Parameter Conditions of 304L SS and AISI 1015 Dissimilar Steel Weld Joints to Macrostructure and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This research is focused on the effect of welding parameter conditions, using Gas Metal Arc Welding, on the macrostructure, mechanical properties, and quality of dissimilar steel weld joints. In this study, the selected joints were low carbon steel (AISI 1015) and austenitic stainless steel (304L SS). The welding current used had three different variations, such as 100, 110, and 120 A. The solid wire electrode used was ER70S6, with a diameter of 1.2 mm. Identification of the macrostructure in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), micro-Vickers hardness, and tensile tests carried out for each GMAW joint specimen. The results were then discussed. The macrostructure of dissimilar steel welded joints at a welding current of 100 A produced a good quality of welded joints and penetration compared to those using welding currents of 110 and 120 A, which had excessive penetration and caused distortion and deformation. The microhardness of the weld metal area was far higher than in other areas. At the current 100 A, the micro-Vickers hardness value of stainless steel 304L SS closing the heat-affected zone (HAZ) had increased from 209 to 226 HV. Likewise, For the welding current of 110 A, the micro-Vickers hardness value rose from 249 to 259 HV, and for the welding current of 120 A, the hardness increased from 225 to 227 HV. In the weld metal area, micro-Vickers hardness for each welding current was 318, 364, and 366 HV, while in the low carbon steel area, the hardness value decreased significantly to 180, 190, and 196 HV. At the current of 100 A, the lowest tensile strength was 359.28 MPa, and yield strength was 303.82 MPa. The tensile strength and yield strength for the current of 110 A were 367.24 MPa and 309.83 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, at the current of 120A, the tensile strength was at the highest that is 374.86 MPa, and the yield strength value was 315.67 MPa. This study found that the dissimilar steel welded joints experienced an increase in the hardness value of the weld metal, and the tensile test results show that the welded steel joints fractured in the low carbon steel area.