Influence of the welding thermal cycle on δ-ferrite evolution in the first layer of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) 308L produced by WAAM-GTAW

In this article, the effects on the weld bead geometry and heat affected zone at observe area explored on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (WAAM-GTAW). Based on GTAW process, layer by layer WAAM components are produced by deposition welding. Each welding process, the temperature is recorded at one point to determine temperature history. This article explained how specific thermal cycles, from the welding heat input to subsequent cooling phases, dictate the transformation behavior, phase stability, and morphological changes in δ-ferrite, ultimately shaping the material properties and performance of the welded. The factor affecting these properties were explained to identify evolution microstructure in observe area. The paper focuses on the impact of the temperature history to determine macrostructure and microstructure δ-ferrite evolutions of the observe parts deposited in the WAAM process. The thermal cycle experienced during welding lead to the transformation of δ-ferrite into austenite. The δ-ferrite transforms in austenite when the temperature rises above 800 °C–450 °C (T 8/5). Specimens that experienced temperatures above T8/5 exhibited vermicular (V) and eutectic ferrite (EF) modes of delta ferrite. Specimens that had peak temperature prediction records around 750 °C–525 °C in the T8/5 area exhibited ferrite with acicular (Ac) mode. Specimens approaching the lower line of T8/5 around 425 °C showed a transition from acicular to coarse Ac. Specimens with peak temperature records below the T8/5 line generally did not experience changes after the welding process.