Weldability Studies of AISI 409 Ferritic Stainless Steel Thick Plates Using Electron Beam Welding Process

In the present research, attempts have been made to weld 18 mm thick AISI 409 ferritic steel plate in a single pass with electron beam welding process. The welded joint was investigated for macrostructure, microstructural, microhardness, impact toughness, and tensile strength. The coarse ferritic grains of base metal were converted into fine equiaxed and columnar grains in the weld zone. The microhardness results revealed that for fusion zone and heat affected zone had 28% and 41% higher microhardness than the base metal. Further, post weld heat treatment at 550 degrees C/75 minutes resulted in 5% rise in ultimate tensile strength, 10% rise in yield strength, and 31% rise in impact toughness as compared to as welded specimens. The fractography of impact and tensile specimens revealed brittle mode of fracture and changed to ductile mode after post weld heat treatment.