Texture analysis of welded 304L pipeline steel

This paper deals with the effect of arc welding process on the crystallographic texture of pipeline 304L steel. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique was used to illustrate the effect of welding on the grain orientation in the fusion zone, in the heat affected zone, and in the base metal. Moreover, the effect of isothermal heat treatment at 400°C on welded joint has been studied. The same orientation was found in the base metal and the heat affected zone but different and heterogeneous structures were observed in the fusion zone. The applied heat treatments at 400°C on the welded material had a slight effect on the crystallographic texture, but it had an effect on the grain size in the fusion zone.