Advanced fiber laser welding for high-temperature applications: dissimilar welds of austenitic stainless steel (316L) and Hastelloy C-276
摘要
In this study, fiber laser welding is employed to combine two alloys, namely AISI 316L stainless steel and the nickel-based super alloy Hastelloy C-276. Both alloys have a thickness of 1 mm and dimensions of 50 mm × 50 mm × 1 mm. A butt configuration is used for welding without transition material. This study examines the tensile strength and micro-hardness of dissimilar welds from these two materials, utilized in steam turbines for nuclear power facilities operating at over 600 °C. The factors considered in this analysis are the welding speed, laser power, laser offset, and laser defocusing distance. The uniaxial tensile strength reaches 612 MPa, surpassing AISI 316L and accounting for 80% of Hastelloy C-276. Experimental data shows that the welded area has an average micro-hardness of 320 HV and a minimum of 299 HV. The optimized parameters can provide a joint with 589 MPa tensile strength and 336 HV. This study demonstrates that laser welding procedure is appropriate for creating strong weld connections between dissimilar (HAS C-276—SS 316 L) metals and optimised parameters can produce enough strength and average micro-hardness for robust weldability of those materials in used ranges.