Seeking advice on welding issues with 17-4 stainless steel
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After welding 17-4 precipitation-hardening stainless steel, the color of the welded area differs from that of the base material; after sandblasting, it turns a very light white color. What could be the cause of this? Are there any ways to address it? The welding rod used was 630; details are provided below
After welding and solution treatment, 17-4 (630) stainless steel exhibits an unstable austenitic structure, which provides it with good plasticity, toughness, and workability. By adjusting the composition in order to promote the precipitation of carbides within the austenite phase, followed by a martensitic transformation process, most of the structure is converted into low-carbon tempered martensite with improved toughness. This state represents the suitable condition for using the steel, as it offers good mechanical properties at medium temperatures. Its corrosion resistance is superior to that of ordinary martensitic stainless steels.