• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.2755-2770
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• 2022

The need for Dissimilar Welded Joint (DWJ) in the power plant components arises in order to increase the overall efficiency of the plant and to avoid premature failure in the component welds. The Activated-Tungsten Inert Gas (A-TIG) welding process, which is a variant of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, is focus of this review work concerning the DWJ of nuclear grade creep-strength enhanced ferritic/martensitic (CSEF/M) steels and austenitic steels. A-TIG DWJs are compared with Multipass-Tungsten Inert Gas (M-TIG) DWJ based on their mechanical and microstructural properties. The limitations of multipass welding have put A-TIG welding in focus as A-TIG provides a weld with increased depth of penetration (DOP) and enhanced mechanical properties. Hence, this review article covers the A-TIG welding principle and working parameters along with detailed analysis of role played by the flux in welding procedure. Further, weld characteristics of martensitic and austenitic steel DWJ developed with the A-TIG welding process and the M-TIG welding process are compared in this study as there are differences in mechanical, microstructural, creep-related, and residual stress obtained in both TIG variants. The mechanics involved in the welding process is deliberated which is revealed by microstructural changes and behavior of base metals and WFZ.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.70-75
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• 2002

The penetration potential of TIG welding in one single run is limited, though the process itself generates high quality welds with good weld cosmetics. This is one of the main reasons, which has contributed to its development in high duty applications such as those encountered in aeronautical, aerospace, nuclear & power plant applications. For these applications, stainless steels, titanium k nickel based alloys are most often used. As these materials remain very sensible to weld heat input k atmospheric pollution, stringent processing conditions are imposed. For example welding of titanium alloys requires argon shielding of weld zone and for 5 mm thick plates multi-pass runs & filler additions are required. This multi-run operation not only raises the welding cost, but also increases defect risks. In recent years, extensive interest has been raised by the possibility to increase weld penetrations through flux applications & the process is designated ATIG-activated TIG, or FBTIG-flux bounded TIG. The improved welding performance of such flux assisted TIG is related to arc constriction and surface tension effects on weld pool. The research work by authors has lead to the formulation of welding fluxes for stainless steels k titanium alloys with TIG Process. These fluxes are now commercialized & some applications in industry have already been carried out. FBTIG for aluminum has been proposed with silica application for AC mode TIG welding. The paper highlights the fundamentals of flux role in TIG welding and illustrates some industrial applications.