THE EFFECT OF THE PROCESS TIME ON THE WELDABILITY IN DIFFUSION WELDING OF MARINE GRADE GREY CAST IRON WITH STEEL

Abstract

In this study, the effects of process time of diffusion welding on the weldability of gray cast iron with low carbon steel was investigated. Gray cast iron and low carbon steel was joined in a vacuum furnace under a pressure of 10 MPa and temperature at 850, 900, 950 and 1100 oc. The specimens were allowed to bond for 60 minutes at each temperature bonding and then cooled to room temperature in the furnace. After the bond is formed, mechanical testing such as tensile test was carried out on specimens that have been bonded. From the results, it has been observed that the bond strength was quite weak. The researchers suspected that it is due to poor surface preparation and thus result to the bonding defects such as micro- void, micro-cracks or incomplete diffusion. Further investigations will be made on the parameters and surface preparation for diffusion welding of gray cast iron and low carbon steel to get better joint.