Toughness properties at multi-layer laser beam welding of high-strength steels

Abstract

The material characteristics of high toughness and high strength in steel are usually not available at the same time. However, it would be an advantage if high-strength steels would show high impact toughness also at lower temperatures for applications in critical surroundings. In this paper, an approach of multi-layer welding of high-strength steel is presented in order to increase the weld-metal toughness using wire material in combination with thermal cycle modifications. Promising interlocking microstructures were found after multiple tempering of the previously applied structure at homogeneously distributed material in the weld seam. It was found that short thermal cycles during laser processing lead to insufficient time for carbon diffusion, which leads to remaining ferrite structures in contrast to the prediction of welding transformation diagrams. The additionally applied heating cycles during multi-layer laser welding induce the formation of interlocking microstructures that help to increase the weld seam toughness.