Stainless steel base metals and thus the welding filler metals used with them are almost

invariably chosen
on the basis of adequate corrosion resistance for the intended application.
The cycle of heating and cooling that occurs during the welding process affects the microstructure and
surface composition of welds and adjacent base metal. Consequently, the corrosion resistance of
autogenous welds (welds made without the use of filler metals) and welds made with matching filler
metal may be inferior to that of properly annealed base metal because of:

Microsegregation
Precipitation of secondary phases
Formation of unmixed zones
Recrystallization and grain growth in the weld heat-affected zone (HAZ)
Volatilization of alloying elements from the molten weld pool
Contamination of the solidifying weld pool

Corrosion resistance can usually be maintained in the welded condition by:

Balancing alloy compositions to inhibit certain precipitation

reactions
Shielding molten and hot metal surfaces from reactive gases in the weld
environment
Removing chromium-enriched oxides and chromium-depleted base metal
from thermally discolored (heat tinted) surfaces
Choosing the proper welding parameters

For example, when type 304 stainless steel is welded using a filler metal with high
chromium-nickel content, steep concentration gradients of chromium and nickel are
found in the fusion zone, whereas the unmixed zone has a composition similar
to the base metal

Preferential Attack Associated with Weld Metal Precipitates. In austenitic stainless

steels, the principal weld metal precipitates are -ferrite, -phase, and M23C6
carbides. Small amounts of M6C carbide may also be present
The precipitation rate for and phases increases with the chromium and
molybdenum contents

Type 316L weld filler metal has been formulated with higher chromium and lower
molybdenum to minimize - phase formation

Cr tinggi dan carbon yang rendah dapat mengurangi presentase kemungkinan

terjadinya sensitasi