THE EFFECT OF WET UNDERWATER WELDING ON COLD CRACKING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL

The present work was conducted to assess the weldability of duplex stainless steel in underwater conditions. Metal manual arc welding (MMA) with the use of coated electrodes was used in the investigations. Tekken weldability tests were performed underwater at 0.5 m depth and in the air. Nondestructive tests, metallographic examinations of welds, ferrite content assessment in microstructure and hardness test were performed. The good weldability at underwater conditions of duplex stainless with the use of MMA method was confirmed, however difficulties in stable arc burning were revealed.