Role of layer arrangement in microstructure and corrosion behavior for 78-mm thick-plate 316L stainless steel fabricated via narrow gap laser wire filling welding

Controlling repeated thermal cycling is one of the key mechanisms to design microstructures in the interlayer regions for narrow gap laser wire filling welding (NGLWFW) of austenite stainless steels. Herein, the optimization of process parameters for individual layers is tailored to customize the molten pool morphology during the NGLWFW process, facilitating precise control over the microstructure and, consequently, enhancing both mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the joint. The results showed that the molten pool morphology acquired by simulation are obviously diverse from the bottom zone (BZ), middle zone (MZ) to upper zone (UZ) of the welded joint ascribed to the high heat accumulation effect, leading to the variation of microstructure. At BZ, the combination of smaller grain size and reduced dendrite spacing reduce the number of corrosion sites and promote the formation of a denser and more uniform corrosion product layer. Additionally, the diverse grain orientation, characterized by lower texture strength, facilitated a more uniform distribution of elements. Furthermore, the significantly higher content of δ-ferrite showing smallish shape disrupted the directional growth of austenite columnar grains, contributing to the excellent corrosion resistance observed at the BZ.