Microstructure and tensile properties of friction welded SUS 304HCu austenitic stainless steel tubes

• Published in: The International journal of pressure vessels and piping 2014-01, Vol.113, p.25-31
• Main Authors: Vinoth Kumar, M., Balasubramanian, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Austenitic stainless steels; Copper; Eutectic temperature; Friction; Friction welding; Microstructure; Oxidation resistance; SUS 304HCu; Tensile properties
• ISSN: 0308-0161; 1879-3541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpvp.2013.11.005

Austenitic stainless steels are used in superheater/reheater tubing for their oxidation resistance and fireside corrosion resistance, in addition to their creep strength. The addition of 3 wt. % Cu to SUS 304HCu austenitic stainless steel to reduce the corrosion, has found to increase the creep performance in temperature range of 650°–750 °C. The addition of Cu to steels can have adverse effects on the mechanical properties of the fusion welded joints. During fusion welding, Cu can form low temperature eutectic phases that preferentially segregate to the grain boundaries and embrittle the alloy. There is a need for a better welding procedure/technique to fabricate this alloy. Friction welding is a solid state welding process which nullifies the adverse effects of low temperature eutectics segregation. Hence, in this investigation an attempt has been made to study the microstructural and tensile properties of the friction welded SUS 304HCu austenitic stainless steel tube joints fabricated using optimized parameters. •Friction welding of SUS 304HCu tubes is reported.•Microstructures of friction welded SUS 304HCu tubes were reported.•Fracture surface of the tensile samples is characterized using SEM.•XRD analysis of the SUS 304HCu tube is reported.