Prospects for using laser radiation to improve cracking resistance in welding cryogenic steels

Abstract It is shown that in welding large structures with stable austenitic welding materials made of nitrogen-containing cryogenic chromium–nickel–manganese austenitic steels, cracks can form in the welded joint both during crystallization and in the solid-state at subsolidus temperatures. In laser welding, the structure of the cast weld metal can be greatly refined in comparison with arc welding and this should increase the solidification cracking resistance. In addition, laser welding can be used to produce the welded joint in a single pass thus preventing reheat cracking.