Investigations on the Influence of Surfacing Process Parameters Over Bead Properties During Stainless Steel Cladding

Abstract The bead parameters play a vital role in determining and understanding the properties of the weld cladding in fusion welding process. This investigation aims at minimizing weld dilution and predicting the behavior of the bead parameters during weld cladding of AISI 316 L (UNS 316 03) metal powder over carbon steel (ASTM A105/ IS: 2062), by plasma transferred arc (PTA) surfacing through response surface method. The data for modeling were collected from experiments conducted using a five level factorial technique. The predictions reveal that the travel speed has a phenomenal effect in increasing the penetration of the weld bead at lower level. The torch stand-off distance has a predominant effect in deciding the penetration and dilution of the weld bead during lower level while increasing welding current. The reinforcement of the weld bead reduced the dilution level with increase in the oscillation frequency and the powder feed rate. Keywords: CladdingDilutionFactorialPlasmaPredictionResponse surface ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank the Management, Principal, and the Faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Welding Research Cell of the Coimbatore Institute Technology, Coimbatore, India, for having provided all the necessary infrastructural facilities to conduct this research work successfully. Notes Note. I = Welding current, A; S = Torch travel speed, mm min −1; F = Powder feed rate, gm min −1; H = oscillation frequency, cycles min −1; N = Torch stand-off distance, mm. Note. Sl No. = serial number; P = penetration; R = reinforcement; D = dilution; W = width; TA = total area. Note. df = degrees of freedom; CV = co-efficient of variation; F = Fisher ratio; p = probability.