Influence of ferrite contents in duplex stainless steel weld metal on hydrogen cracking susceptibility

The influence of ferrite contents in duplex stainless steel weld metal on hydrogen cracking susceptibility was investigated quantitatively by means of the Longitudinal Butt-Tensile Restraint Cracking (LB-TRC) test and the Weld Metal-Slow Extension Rate Test(WM-SERT) methods and by using laboratory made filler wire with various compositions and TIG welding method with Ar+H₂ mixed shielding gas. It is shown that the weld metal is not susceptible to hydrogen cracking until the ferrite contention duplex stainless steel weld metal reached 50%, and when ferrite content is more than 50%, its hydrogen cracking susceptibility markedly increases with the increase of ferrite content.