Abstract
The effects of titanium content on weld microstructure and inclusion characteristics have been studied using the two different bainitic welds fabricated to have similar oxygen content. Analytical transmission electron microscopy analysis with thin foil specimens was carried out to investigate inclusion characteristics focusing on the crystal structure and the chemical features of the constituent phases. Then, these results were related with the proportion of acicular ferrite measured under an optical microscope. For a weld containing 0.002 wt.% Ti, a Ti-rich oxide layer containing manganese is present on the surface of amorphous inclusions and appears to be responsible for acicular ferrite appreciably formed in the bainitic structure, ~50%. When the titanium content increases to 0.07 wt.% Ti2O3 inclusions were formed accompanying with manganese-depleted regions and eventually results in a significant increase in acicular ferrite content over 90%. Therefore, the manganese depletion developed along with the formation of Ti2O3 inclusions is concluded to be a possible mechanism for acicular ferrite nucleation in the high titanium welds.
