Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Joint Fabricated Between Stainless Steel and Copper Using Gas Metal Arc Welding

The present paper dealt with characterizing microstructure and mechanical properties of the dissimilar weldment between stainless steel and copper obtained by gas metal arc welding using HS201 filler material. The results showed that the copper/weld interface was free of any defects, while the stainless steel/weld interface consisted of a melted unmixed zone with inhomogeneous distribution of composition. The weld showed a hybrid microstructure, which contained significant amount of steel globules and dendrites with different sizes. The hardness distribution of the weld was inhomogeneous, and an obvious reduction in microhardness of the heat-affected zone of copper was observed compared to that of the base metal of copper. Furthermore, all tensile specimens fractured at the heat-affected zone of copper, and the average tensile strength of welded joint reached 209.5 MPa.