Hot Cracking Susceptibility of Fe-Mn-Al-C Austenitic Steel Welds

Abstract

The hot cracking susceptibilities of austenitic high manganese steels (HMnS) were evaluated by using a longitudinal/transverse Varestraint technique as a function of Al content. The HMnS is sensitive to hot cracking due to the formation of low melting eutectic [γ+(Fe,Mn) 3C] during welding and the wide solidification temperature range. Three types of typical hot cracking (solidification cracking, liquation cracking and ductility dip cracking) occurred extensively in HMnS welds. The present study provides overall understanding of the hot cracking behavior in HMnS and discusses on its phenomena in connection with metallurgical aspects such as solidification behavior, microstructural evolution, and grain boundary characteristics.