Steel Sleeve Repair Welding on Carbon Steel: Intermetallic Compound (IMC) Formation Based on MIG Welding Quality

Abstract

Steel sleeve repair has been widely used in the pipeline, especially in the energy industries. Therefore, the efforts to find the perfect parameter to preserve the steel sleeve repair welding parameter. The aim is for determined the improved MIG welding parameter that enhances the weld quality at the steel sleeve joint. By using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS) to validate the data of the project. The Vickers micro-hardness test is conducted to determine the strength of the weldment zone, the Inter Metallic Compound (IMC) layer, and, the steel base zone. All the samples have been cut thru, grind, polished, and etched followed. Based on the result, it was found that the welding parameter of sample B in which the welding current used is 110 A, the voltage is 22 V, and, the welding speed is 90 mm/min indicating a good microstructure whereas the white ferrite grain dominated almost 70% of the captured image. The EDS result in IMC however determine varies in elements including iron 56.08%, oxygen 24.32%, manganese 6.36%, carbon 6.31%, calcium 5.99%, and, aluminum 0.94% caused medium range strength as determined by Vickers micro-hardness test in the range of 169.98 HV to 173.03 HV. Thus, the heat input during welding determines the good welding quality of the steel sleeve repair weld through the microstructure reaction.