Inoculation of steel welds with non-metallic particles

Two series of experimental submerged are welds have been produced, in which additions of titanium-rich and tungsten-rich powders have been made to the flux. Such additions have caused variations in weld composition. Weld microstructures were observed to become more intragranularly dominated with increases in either titanium or tungsten. In titanium welds, microstructural changes were due to changes in inclusion mineralogy and consequently to nucleating potential, as well as to matrix hardenability. In tungsten welds, microstructural variations were solely due to the effects of tungsten in solution. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.