| Abstract Scope |
In the Fe-Cr-Ni system, Ni and Cr promote the formation of austenite and ferrite (A & F) phases, respectively. In 1947, Schaeffler introduced Cr and Ni equivalents, including the effects of various alloying elements, and a plot with iso-ferrite lines for different stainless steels. In 1992, the Welding Research Council (WRC) revised the Schaeffler diagram, however, this version omitted Mn, a known austenite stabilizer. In the present study, low-carbon steels and ferritic-martensitic stainless steels were joined using austenitic fillers. These welds had higher austenite content than predicted by historic Schaeffler and current WRC-1992 diagrams. Chemical characterization showed that austenite formation was observed in areas with elevated levels of Mn (and Ni). Based on the current experimental findings, a Mn coefficient was estimated, which is similar to Schaeffler’s, and a mechanism is suggested which explains the occurrence of both AF and FA solidification within different regions of a single weld. |