Article By Dr. Michael Fletcher
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Whilst these new materials help to expand the use of nickel-based alloys in areas where mechanical properties and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures are mandatory, the need to maintain strict control during fusion welding remains, in order to preserve these characteristics.
Inconel 740H has a higher chromium content than other alloys in this class of materials and as a consequence offers significant high temperature corrosion resistance. Notwithstanding this characteristic all the alloys, and particularly Inconel 740H, are prone to loss of chromium through oxidation2 during welding unless some form of protection is provided3.
Need for correct purging
With respect to pipework and boilers, a failure to purge properly will result in a heavily oxidised surface to the weld root inside the cavity with substantially lower corrosion resistance. Even after the completion of the root weld, the weld purge should be continued for several passes to avoid Heat Tint, or discolouration (oxidation) inside the tube or pipe.
When using the GTAW process direct protection of the upper weld deposit can be assured through the inert gas shroud and the use of a Trailing Shield. The weld root however is fully exposed to the atmosphere, and oxidation can take place. An essential requirement when making butt joints therefore is to provide interior inert gas purging typically with argon or helium4.
Figure 2. These examples from the QuickPurge® range are representative
of proven purge systems. They cover the entire pipe size
range between 152 and 2235 mm diameter.
With very small tubes this can usually be achieved through careful continuous gas flow but this technique is prone to erratic coverage because of turbulence. Isolating the section to be welded by inserting dams on either side of the joint and filling the volume with inert gas is a much better solution.
Attempts have been made to provide dams using paper, card, timber or even polystyrene plugs on the basis of economy but success is erratic – sealing is difficult, contamination is inevitable and effective removal of the debris following welding is difficult.
The best solution, and the one now adopted globally by leading fabricators, is to employ commercially available integrated inflatable purging systems (Figures 1 – 2).
For adequate protection of nickel alloys during welding, the internal purge atmosphere should have the oxygen level reduced to 50 ppm (0.005%) or less in order to obtain a root surface with little or no oxide.
Figure 3. PurgEye monitors include full colour touch screen control.
The instruments support data logging and weld certification.
Readings are accurate down to 10 ppm (0.0001%).
Control of purge gas oxygen content during welding is clearly an important aspect. Recent development in monitoring instruments (Figure 3) have led to the introduction of equipment that not only measures oxygen levels accurately but also provides facilities for continuous recording and even overrides the joining process if oxygen levels exceed those pre-set by the operator.
Techniques for measuring oxygen content have been available for decades, but only recently have instruments been developed specifically for welding applications.
Users increasingly demand complete absence of discolouration and no loss of corrosion resistance and this implies purge gas oxygen content to be as low as 20 ppm (0.002%). Very few oxygen purge monitors are capable of meeting this sensitivity, but the PurgEye® [Figure 3] instruments cover all requirements.
References
- Characterization of INCONEL alloy 740H for Tube, Pipe and Fittings for Advanced Supercritical CO2 Systems. de Barbadillo et al. 6th International Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles Symposium, March 2018, Pittsburgh.
- Oxidation of nickel and cobalt based superalloys. Defense Metals Information Center. Battelle Memorial Institute Columbus, Ohio. Report 214 March 1, 1965.
- Welding of nickel alloys – Part 1 – Job Knowledge 107 – The Welding Institute, Cambridge UK
- Inert gas weld purging of pipes. M J Fletcher. Engineer Live, May 2017.
Acknowledgements
Figures 1 to 4 reproduced courtesy of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Ltd, UK
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