Experimental Investigation and Metallurgical Studies on D9 Tube to SS316 Tapered End Plug Using Magnetic Pulse Welding

Abstract

In this process, the magnetic field pressure forces the driver to deform radially inward; sequentially, the D9 steel tube gets accelerated and forced to impact the SS316 end plug, causing a joint between the two. Experiments and metallurgical characterization were conducted by changing the working length of the field shapers and end plug shape at different voltages. The effect of change in end plug geometry, change in voltage, and change in field shaper working length was studied. The results were compared based on the values of the welded length, wavelength and crest height for the joined samples. The metallurgical characterization was performed using optical microscopy, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The micro-hardness test of the joined samples was also performed. To test whether the gap between the joint was present or not, helium leak tests were performed. For the confirmation of the strain hardening, hardness tests were performed near the joint interface.