Effects of PWHT on the Residual Stress and Microstructure of Bisalloy 80 Steel Welds

Quenched and tempered (Q & T) steels have numerous applications, particularly in the defence industry with welding as main fabrication route. Since imparts stresses due to thermal gradients development during welding, plus fact that Q T fabricated structures are expected function a complex loading environment, it is critically important relax before exposing parts service conditions. The present study reports on generated residual when Bisalloy 80 welded by pulsed gas metal arc (GMAW-P) verifies effects of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) microstructural changes, removal or reduction resulting mechanical properties steel joints. Neutron diffraction was utilized measure as-welded after PWHT weldments. High levels tensile reaching yield strength weld were (642 ± 24 MPa) joints but substantially reduced (145 MPa 21 MPa, which ~23% metal). led changes different regions parent metals, including formation coarsened polygonal ferrite grains bainitic laths. This finding line hardness measurements, where reductions evident heat-affected zone (HAZ) (WM) heat-treated specimens.