Nanomodification is an effective method for forming the structure of the weld metal. Part II. Increasing the efficiency of nanoinoculators in the welding bath

The short-term existence of the melt in the weld pool and its overheating, a large temperature gradient near the interface and two-dimensional crystallization centers, in the form of fused grains at the weld pool boundary, reduce the probability and rate of formation of crystallization centers in the liquid phase. This leads to the formation of a coarse-grained columnar structure of the weld metal, which, in combination with defects arising during crystallization, is less ductile than the fine-grained rolled metal being welded, and often causes brittle fracture of the structure. Therefore, obtaining a fine-grained structure of the weld metal is a constant problem in the welding industry. It is now generally accepted that the most effective way to obtain a fine-grained weld metal structure is to modify the weld pool. At the same time, micro- or nanoparticles of refractory metals or their chemical compounds (inoculators) are introduced into the weld pool from the outside, as ready-made crystallization centers. In a superheated melt, the rate of formation of crystallization centers, due to the deactivation of particles, decreases. It can be increased in two ways: by slowing down the decontamination process and by increasing the number of modifying particles introduced into the weld pool. The paper analyzes the factors that determine the modifying activity of inoculators and methods for maintaining this activity in the weld pool. To ensure high activity of the inoculator, it is necessary to reduce the time of its residence in the high-temperature zone of the weld pool; the material of the inoculator should have high values of temperature and heats of fusion, but lower values of thermal and thermal diffusivity. A decrease in the rate of heating and melting of the inoculator particles is achieved by introducing them into the weld pool, by passing the arc column and the high-temperature zone of the bath, in combination with metal particulates that act as microcoolers and means of transporting the inoculator to the tail of the bath. Nanoscale inoculators have a high thermodynamic potential and the associated high nucleating activity. Inclusions of oxides, carbides and nitrides, on the basis of which crystallization centers are formed, in the solidified metal have strong interatomic bonds with the matrix, and due to the fact that the coefficients of their thermal expansion are an order of magnitude lower than those of the matrix, after cooling the metal, they experience all-round compression. Therefore, such inclusions are not dangerous, are not concentrators of tensile stresses and centers of crack initiation. It is experimentally shown in this work that the introduction of carbon nanotubes with a specific surface area of more than 270 m2/g into the weld pool contributes to the formation of a fine-grained structure of the weld metal.