Precipitation hardening stainless steels

Job Knowledge
The precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steels are a family of corrosion resistant alloys some
of which can be heat treated to provide tensile strengths of 850MPa to 1700MPa and yield
strengths of 520MPA to over 1500MPa - some three or four times that of an austenitic stainless
steel such as type 304 or type 316. They are used in the oil and gas, nuclear and aerospace
industries where a combination of high strength, corrosion resistance and a generally low but
acceptable degree of toughness is required. Precipitation hardening is achieved by the addition of
copper, molybdenum, aluminium and titanium either singly or in combination.
The family of precipitation hardening stainless steels can be divided into three main types - low
carbon martensitic, semi-austenitic and austenitic - typical compositions of some of the steels are
given in Table 1.
Table 1 Typical Compositions of some commoner precipitation hardening stainless steels
Typical Chemical Analysis %
Type
Other
C Mn Cr Ni Mo Cu Al Ti
s
martensiti 0.0 0.7
4.2
4.2
A693 Tp630 17/4PH
16.5
Nb 0.3
c
5
5
5
5
austenitic
0.0
4.7
FV 520
0.6 14.5
1.4 1.7 Nb 0.3
martensiti 5
5
c
austenitic
0.0
17.2 7.2
1.2
A693 Tp631 17/7PH
0.7
martensiti 6
5
5
5
c
austenitic
PH 15/7 0.0
7.2
0.7 15.5
2.6 1.3 Mo
martensiti 6
5
c
V 0.25
0.0 1.4 15.2 26. 1.2
0.1 2.1
A 286
austenitic
B
4
5
5
0
5
5
5
0.007
V 0.25
0.0 0.0 14.7 30. 1.2
0.3 2.1 B
JBK 75 austenitic
1
4
5
5
5
0
5
0.001
7
0.0 0.7
10.
17/10P austenitic
17.2
P 0.28
7
5
8
Specificatio Commo
n
n Name

The martensitic PH steels, of which 17/4PH is the most common, transform to martensite at low
temperatures, typically around 250C, and are further strengthened by ageing at between 480 and
620C.
The austenitic-martensitic PH steels are essentially fully austenitic after solution treatment and
require a second heat cycle to 750C/2 hours before cooling to room temperature to form
martensite. Some of these alloys need to be refrigerated (-50/-60C for eight hours) following
this heat treatment to ensure full transformation to a stable austenitic/martensitic structure
although the two most commonly used alloys, FV520 and 17/7PH, do not require refrigeration to
develop optimum properties.
Ageing of these alloys occurs at temperatures between 500 to 600C. The austenitic grades are
stable down to room temperature, improvements in strength being from the precipitates formed
by ageing at 650 to 750C. These fully austenitic grades can exhibit good toughness and some
may be used at cryogenic temperatures.
For best weldability it is recommended that all three types of alloys are supplied in the annealed,
solution treated or overaged condition. Alloys in the form of sheet or strip may be in a cold
worked condition and weldability is seriously compromised. As with many precipitation
hardening alloys, achieving mechanical properties in the weld and HAZs to match those of the
parent material is a problem. Even with matching welding consumables, a full solution treatment
and age hardening the maximum strength of a joint in the semi-austenitic and austenitic alloys is
likely to be only some 90% of that of the base metal.
Martensitic PH steels in the solution-treated condition can be welded with most of the
conventional arc welding processes although the best toughness will be achieved with the TIG
(GTAW) process as this provides the cleanest weld metal. Even better toughness can be achieved
using power beam processes (electron beam or laser welding). Matching filler metals are
available for most of the steels in this group enabling matching mechanical properties to be
achieved by carrying out a post weld ageing heat treatment.
If a joint is very highly restrained then 17/4PH may fail along the fusion line by a form of reheat
cracking during the ageing heat treatment. In these circumstances the component should be
welded in the overaged condition and then given a solution heat treatment followed by the
PWHT described below. Austenitic filler metals such as 308L or, for higher weld metal strength,
a duplex filler metal such as 2205, can be used where lower strength joints can be tolerated or
cracking due to high restraint is a problem. PWHT is not possible if a duplex filler metal is used
or recommended for austenitic weld metal due to embrittlement.
The martensite in these steels is relatively soft due to the low carbon content so preheat is not
generally necessary although for thick, (above 25mm) highly restrained joints, a preheat of
around 100C has been found to be useful in reducing the risk of cracking. Because of the low
temperature at which these steels transform to martensite a maximum interpass temperature of
200C is recommended.
Maintaining a very high interpass temperature results in the entire weld transforming to
martensite on cooling to room temperature and the volume change that occurs when this happens

can then lead to a form of quench cracking. The stress raising effect of the notch in the root of
fillet welds and partial penetration butt welds has been found to cause cracking. Provided the
reduction in strength can be tolerated, a Tp308L root pass can be used to solve this problem. It
has also been found that 17/4PH castings may form HAZ hot cracks during welding; for cast
items the copper content is therefore limited to 3% maximum.
PWHT generally comprises a 750C soak and cool to room temperature to ensure that the steel is
100% martensitic followed by ageing at 550C. This should give UTS of 900 to 1000MPa, yield
strength 800 to 900MPa and ductility of some 15% depending upon the composition of the alloy
and the temperature of the ageing heat treatment.
The semi-austenitic alloys are generally supplied in the solution treated condition. This means
that the steel is fully austenitic and preheat is not generally required although for welding of
thick and highly restrained joints a preheat of around 100C has been found to be helpful. All the
common arc welding processes may be used although, as above, TIG (GTAW) will give the best
properties.

For alloys containing aluminium, eg 17/7PH, MMA and submerged arc welding should be avoided as a good proportion of the aluminium is lost during
welding; inert gas shielded processes are therefore preferred. The weld pool is less fluid than the non-aluminium alloys. Matching composition filler metals
for FV520 are readily available but 17/7PH consumables are difficult and expensive to obtain so parent metal sheared from strip is often used for TIG
welding. Alternatively a 17/4PH or FV520 filler may be used; a preheat of 100C is advisable if the 17/4PH filler is used. PWHTs are similar to those used
for the martensitic steels but, without a full solution heat treatment and matching filler metal, strengths matching those of the parent metal are unlikely
to be achieved.
It is recommended that the fully austenitic PH steels are welded in the solution treated condition; a water or oil quench from around 980C. The ageing
process is very sluggish, requiring some 15 hours at 720C to develop full strength and this means that the HAZ is virtually unchanged from the parent
metal. Optimum strength can therefore be developed during the post-weld ageing treatment. These steels, like the austenitic stainless steels, are
insensitive to cold cracking and do not require to be pre-heated. They are, however, very sensitive to hot cracking due to them being fully austenitic. This
makes the welding of thick sections problematic and requires the welding conditions to be very closely controlled with low heat input, small weld beads
and interpass temperature controlled to less than 150C.
Aerospace alloys such as AMS 5858, equivalent to A286, have been produced with improved weldability. The 17/10P grade is particularly sensitive and
cannot be welded with matching fillers; a type 312 (29Cr/9Ni) filler gives the best chance of success, although hot cracking in the HAZ may still occur.
Due to the presence of aluminium and/or titanium in many alloys only the inert gas shielded arc welding processes should be used. Some matching
composition filler metals are available, again in aerospace grades such as AMS 5804 and these can be aged to give strengths close to those of the parent
metal. Alternatively either austenitic, duplex or nickel based weld filler metals may be used.
As is apparent, the metallurgy of these steels can be complex and if there is any doubt concerning welding or heat treatment the advice of specialists
should be sought.