Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AISI 410S Ferritic Stainless Steel Narrow Gap Weld Using Flux Strip Constraining Arc Welding

The achievement of high comprehensive mechanical properties in welded joints of ferritic stainless steels has attracted considerable attention in the manufacturing industry. Here, a low heat input flux strip constrained arc welding (FSCAW) was performed on a hot-rolled AISI 410S sheet. Defect free joints with a small HAZ width were obtained by one side welding both sides formation. The microstructure of HAZ consists of fine ferrite grains and a small amount of M23C6-decorated martensite due to short high-temperature residence time and rapid cooling rate, resulting in high toughness and hardness. Influenced by the stirring effect of the constraining arc and the promotion of heterogeneous grain nucleation by Ti-rich MX particles originating from the transition of alloying elements in the flux strip, the fusion zone (FZ) exhibits a unique precipitates-strengthened martensite+austensite uniform microstructure with weak martensitic texture. This translates into a simultaneous increase in impact toughness and hardness of FSCAW FZ compared to the MAG joint with a non-uniform mixed microstructure, strong martensitic texture, and large grain size. This work establishes the potential for using FSCAW welding to join ferrite stainless steels.