EFFECT OF TIG REMELTING ON PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURE OF WELDED JOINTS OF AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL

One of the most commonly used corrosion resistant construction materials are austenitic stainless steels, mainly AISI 304. Any deviation from the welding technology in the case of this steel may result in welding defects or even loss of corrosion resistance. The purpose of this work was explored the influence of remelting using the TIG method (141) on the properties and structure of welded joints of AISI 304. The scope of this paper included making test joints of 2 mm thick sheets and then remelting them. The further part of this work consisted in carrying out: mechanical, macroscopic and microscopic examinations, hardness and corrosion resistance tests, SEM/EDS analysis. As a result of tests it was found that remelting of a joint causes a significant increase in hardness, lower elongation and general corrosion resistance, but increases the resistance to intercrystalline corrosion. Flexural strength and tensile strength were not changed by remelting.