Effect of Ti and Nb Addition on Precipitation and Sensitization Behavior in Ferritic Stainless Steel Welded Joint

The precipitation and sensitization characteristics in AISI436 weld metal were investigated in different chemical composition ranges of Ti and Nb content. We manufactured four welding wires made of 0-0.2 wt% of Ti and 0-1.0 wt% of Nb and did flux cored arc welding. After heat treatment at 900 degrees C for 20 hours, we made a Double Loop Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation (DL-EPR) test, Electron Backscattering Diffraction and SEM. The DL-EPR test revealed that as the amount of addition of Ti and Nb rose, the degree of sensitization fell. The microstructure became more refined, and Cr carbide formed at the grain boundary that had no addition of Ti and Nb. Furthermore, in the specimen with the addition of Ti, Nb, the Ti, Nb carbide and nitride were precipitated in the intergranular boundary, and the laves phase was precipitated at the grain boundary.