Gas metal arc weldability of a Strenx 700MC-AISI304 dissimilar joint

Abstract The Strenx 700MC steel is one of the HSLA steels used in the manufacturing of transportation, crane, and mining vehicles and machines due to its cold-forming abilities, strength, abrasion resistance, and weldability. The AISI304 austenitic stainless steel is also widely used in industry because of its strength, resistance to corrosion, and good weldability. In industrial applications, there is a demand for welding dissimilar steels, as well as the requirement for Strenx 700MC-AISI304 steel welded joints. Although conventional fusion welding methods are widely used in the joining of similar and dissimilar steels, MAG welding is the most widely used method in the industry due to easy adaptation to automation. The basic problem of dissimilar steels weldment is that the superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the base metal of the joint are partially lost due to weld thermal cycling. For this purpose, the gas metal arc weldability of Strenx 700MC-AISI304 dissimilar steels is investigated. The mechanical properties of the weldment were determined by tensile test and hardness measurement, and their formability was detected by bending test. Additionally, the microstructure of the weldment and the fracture surfaces of the test samples were examined. Results confirm that the Strenx 700MC-AISI304 couple has been successfully joined by the GMAW method using austenitic stainless filler metal and that the strength and formability of the joint are within the acceptable range.