Solidification Structures and Properties of Fusion Welds

Abstract

To an increasing extent the wide range of fundamental knowledge of solidification processes is being applied to the study of fusion-weld solidification. Initially this fundamental knowledge is surveyed concisely and those areas of particular importance to weld-pool solidification are indentified. This is followed by an examination of phenomenological studies of the solidification behaviour of fusion welds in which particular attention is given to factors influencing the development of the fusion-zone structure. Then, the ways in which the metallurgical structure of the fusion zone influences the mechanical properties of the weldment are reviewed. Attention is then given to methods of controlling the fusion-zone structure by using inoculants, stimulated surface nucleation, dynamic grain refinement, and arc modulation. The gains and advantages which accrue from the way in which structure control affects properties are then considered. The review concludes with a discussion of likely future developments, paying specific attention to those areas where it is considered that fundamental research is most necessary, e.g. applications of arc-modulation processes and development of inoculation procedures.