Characterization of Metallurgical and Mechanical Properties of Commercially Pure Copper and AISI 304 Dissimilar Weldments

Abstract This research work presents mechanical and metallurgical investigations on commercially pure copper and austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 dissimilar joints produced by shielded metal arc welding. The effect of three different electrodes: Inconel (ENiCrMo3), Monel (ENiCu7) and stainless Steel (E316L) on this bimetallic combination were evaluated. Mechanical and metallurgical investigations were carried out on the welded joints. Various microstructures like equiaxed, columnar, cellular dendritic and delta ferrites were observed in the various zones of the weldments. Vickers microhardness plots showed that the CP-copper HAZ had the least hardness. Minimum strength requirement was met by joints produced by all the electrodes. Due to grain coarsening effect in the heat affected zone of CP copper all the weldments fractured in this region. SEM tensile fractographs revealed ductile modes of fracture in all weldments. Joint with ENiCrMo3 electrode showed the maximum strength and that with ENiCu7 electrode showed the least strength.