Two grades of 3 mm thick Stainless Steels (316 LN and Ferritic-Martensitic) have been butt welded using CO2 Laser Beam Welding under different conditions. The influence of various laser welding conditions on bead morphology, cracking susceptibility, hardness, tensile and impression creep properties were investigated.

It was observed that weld bead configuration is gradually changed from wine cup to well type with change to higher power and higher welding speed. Results of tensile tests have indicated that type 316 LN stainless steel can be laser welded such that the weldments maintain their UTS and ductility but not YS. On the other hand, laser welds of Ferritic-Martensitic stainless steel exhibited similar strength (both YS and UTS) but lower ductility than the base metal. The impression creep technique has been employed at 923° K to investigate the creep behaviour of laser welded stainless steels.

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