Application of Taguchi method in Nd-YAG laser welding of super duplex stainless steel

This investigation is aimed at achieving a near 50-50 % ferrite-austenite ratio of laser welded super duplex stainless steel, UNS S 32760 (Zeron 100). Bead-on-plate welding has been carried out using a 2 kW Nd-YAG laser with 3 different kinds of wave form, Continuous, Sine and Square wave. The weld metals were examined with respect to the phase volume contents by X-ray diffraction. Laser welding involved a large number of variables, interaction and levels of variables. Taguchi Method was selected and used to reduce the number of experimental conditions and to identify the dominant factors. The optimum combinations of controllable factors were found from each set of wave form. The optimum 40-60% ferrite-austenite ratio were realized on some of the combination parameter groups after using the Parameter Design method.