Influence of multipass pulsed gas metal arc welding on corrosion behaviour of a duplex stainless steel

This work focuses the effect of secondary austenite (gamma(2)) on corrosion resistance of welded joints. The welded joints were obtained by pulsed gas metal arc welding (GMAW-P) with three different heat inputs. Each joint and their respective sub-regions through thickness were characterised by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results were correlated with double loop electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (DL-EPR) and sulphide stress corrosion tests. The results suggest a good agreement between the DL-EPR and the four point bending tests. It was also verified that the simple presence of gamma(2) does not necessarily gives rise to loss of corrosion resistance. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.