Effect of Restraint Stress on the Precipitation Behavior and Thermal Fatigue Properties of Simulated Weld Heat Affected Zone in Ferritic Stainless Steel

Abstract Thermal fatigue life of the automobile exhaust manifold is directly affected by the restraint force according to the structure of exhaust system and bead shape of the welded joints. In the present study, the microstructural changes and precipitation behavior during thermal fatigue cycle of the 18wt% Cr ferritic stainless steel weld heat affected zone (HAZ) considering restraint stress were investigated. The simulation of weld HAZ and thermal fatigue test were carried out using a metal thermal cycle simulator under complete constraint force in the static jig. The change of the restraint stress on the weld HAZ was simulated by changing the shape of notch in the specimen considering the stress concentration factor. Thermal fatigue properties of the weld HAZ were deteriorated during cyclic heating and cooling in the temperature range of 200to 900due to the decrease of Nb content in solid solution and coarsening of MX type precipitates, laves phase, M 6 C with coarsening of grain and softening of the matrix. As the restraint stress on the specimen increased, the thermal fatigue life was decreased by dynamic precipitation and rapid coarsening of the precipitates.Key Words : Thermal fatigue, Ferritic stainless steel, Heat affected zone, Precipitation