A new understanding of phase transformation in vacuum electron beam welding of NS163 Co-based superalloy and AISI 410L stainless steel: Based on in situ observation and variant selection

This study establishes a link between crystallographic variants and mechanical properties at both the edge and center regions of NS163 Co-based superalloy wires and AISI 410L stainless steel plates welded joints. The thermal cycle of vacuum electron beam welding was simulated using in situ laser confocal microscopy to clarify the martensitic transformation process. Results indicate that martensite preferentially nucleates at grain boundaries, maintaining the Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship with the parent austenite. Most variant boundaries in these regions correspond to variants within the same crystal packet, with V1/V3&V5 emerging as dominant pairs. At the edge, the increased cooling rate and temperature gradient amplify the driving force for martensitic transformation, fostering the generation of diverse variants. Conversely, lower cooling rate at the center raises the martensitic transformation temperature and expands variant selection. The study notes significant dislocation slip during micropillar compression, with the edge of weld exhibiting finer martensite laths and dense dislocations, which enhances strength (∼1279 MPa) compared to the center (∼1040 MPa), aligning with the results obtained via nanoindentation. The observed "size effect" results in a twice strength as measured by micropillar compression compared to nanoindentation. Additionally, staggered Bain groups at the edge include a greater number of high angle grain boundaries, indirectly improving toughness. This research aligns with recent literature and aids in the development of compositional design and machining techniques for heterogeneous welds.