Microstructural and Performance Analysis of TP304H/T22 Dissimilar Steel Welded Joints

In the power plant boiler industry, dissimilar steel welding is widely used in the connection of thermal power generation units. As an important component of the unit, research on the organizational properties of dissimilar steel welded joints has significant guidance for the life design of the joint. For the long-term service state of TP304H/T22 dissimilar steel welded joints, the microstructure’s morphological evolution, the microhardness, and the tensile properties of tube samples were analyzed using tests and numerical simulations. The results show that the microstructure of each part of the welded joint was free of damaged features, such as a creep cavity and intergranular cracks. The microhardness of the weld was higher than that of the base metal. In the tensile test, the welded joints broke at the weld metal at room temperature and at the side of the TP304H base metal at a temperature of 550 °C. The tensile fracture morphology demonstrated a change from a ductile fracture to a hybrid fracture when the temperature rose. The fusion zone and base metal on the TP304H side were the stress concentration areas of the welded joint, which easily sprouted cracks. This study holds significant reference value in assessing the safety and reliability of dissimilar steel welded joints in superheater units.