Development and characterisation of microwave processed SS2205 joints
Virinder Kumar, Shankar Sehgal
Abstract
In this paper, selective microwave hybrid heating (SMHH) based microwave joining of SS2205 specimens has been performed. SS2205 specimens have been successfully joined through SMHH-based joining method without using any filler material at 300 seconds of exposure time. The exposure time of 300 seconds has been found through trial experiments using insulation brick of thickness 6.5 cm and refractory brick of thickness 3.1 cm. The cost of the joining process was significantly reduced due to the absence of filler material. The charcoal powder which is a microwave absorber was used to commence as well as stimulate the heating process. The charcoal powder was fed through the vertical cavity of diameter 8 mm over the joint region. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) tests have been carried out to examine the physical characteristics of the fabricated joints. The joints were also mechanically characterised through micro-hardness tests and tensile tests. Average microhardness at joint region was 410 HV, whereas microhardness of the original specimen was 252 HV. Average tensile strength and percent elongation of the joints was 223 MPa and 11.9%, respectively.