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Duplex steels have heterogeneous microstructures with roughly 50% austenite and 50% ferrite, a
microstructural balance that is achieved by controlling the chemical composition and using special
heat treatments,. The high corrosion resistance of duplex steels ensures significantly more uptime
than carbon steels and conventional stainless steels, while the mechanical strength allows for
lighter constructions, more compact system design and thus reduced welding.
Welding Duplex
Duplex S/S has good weldability. When welding duplex S/S some problems can be
encountered during the rapid heating and cooling of the welding cycle, it can be
difficult ensuring the weld metal and heat-affected zone (HAZ) retain the
corrosion resistance, strength, and toughness of the base metal. During welding
of duplex S/S it is necessary to design welding procedures that lead to a
favourable phase balance after welding to avoid precipitation of detrimental
intermetallic phases. If the weld metal cools too rapidly then the austenite has
little time to form so leading to excessive ferrite being retained. This problem is
magnified even more during welding as the weld metal cool relatively rapidly
which can lead to poor mechanical properties and a loss of corrosion resistance.
Early generations of duplex S/S were prone to poor toughness and corrosion
resistance in the HAZ due to the formation of excessive ferrite during welding. To
counter this modern duplex S/S have higher levels of nitrogen then was the case
in the past leading to improved mechanical properties. This and the over alloying
of the electrode consumable with nitrogen should ensure the austenite phase will
form a favourable phase balance in the weld metal and HAZ in the as welded
condition. If this was not the case then a post weld