TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 187/1982
By J Honeycombe and T G Gooch
Background
The corrosion behaviour was evaluated of autogenous electron-beam and laser weld metals in Types 316 and 316L stainless steels. Material from 6 to 25mm thickness was employed and comparison made with TIG welds prepared at lower travel speeds, both autogenously and with added filler. Pitting, crevice and acid corrosion resistance were assessed using immersion tests and a potentiodynamic procedure.
Under the test conditions employed, it was found that high travel speeds as might be used for increased productivity had no major effect on weld metal corrosion resistance. The results indicated that corrosion behaviour, particularly pitting resistance, were influenced by the primary solidification structure, solidification to ferrite being beneficial.