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DAV Examination of Fixe Chain Translation 20170310. Revised
DAV Examination of Fixe Chain Translation 20170310. Revised
The anchor chain illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 was examined. It was checked if the material of
the supplied PLX HCR anchors actually corresponded to the material specified in the
documentation DOC-PLXTECH (see Appendix).
FIGS. 3 to 6 show the typical structure of an austenitic-ferritic duplex steel (Glossary 1) with
deformation texture (Glossary 2). Titanium carbides are singled out (Glossary 3) to note (in
the ring cross-section thickness more than in the hanger component). An investigation for
inclusions (Glossary 4) and on Sigma phase (Glossary 5) in both un-etched and etched
sections was negative (etching according to procedure from Groesbeck).
Table 1 compares the specification of the steel with the chemical analyses of the individual
components. In all parts except for the chain link, the content of the expensive element nickel
is at the lower limit of the specification, the even more expensive molybdenum element is
missing. In the case of the parts analysed with OES, a carbon content can be found at the
upper limit of the specification, which reduces weldability. The chain link material
corresponds to steel composition 1.4462, all other parts consist of 1.4362. The absence of
molybdenum has a serious impact on the resistance to intercrystalline corrosion and stress
corrosion cracking. The 1.4362 is superior to the 1.4301 (PREN 17- 21: Glossary 6) with a
PREN value of 23 - 29 in corrosive behaviour, but is not considered seawater-resistant in
contrast to the 1.4462 (PREN value 31 - 38). Further differences are the better weldability of
the 1.4362 as well as the lower price. Table 2 compares essential properties of both steels
with those of 1.4301 (Translator comment: 1.4301 = AISI 304) as a typical representative of
austenitic steels.
Peter Randeholzhofer 1 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Peter Randeholzhofer 2 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Figure 3: Structure in the component flap (etched with V2A stain). The cutting plane lies
along the direction of deformation. The ferritic grains (medium gray) and austenite grains
(light gray), stretched by deformation, as well as isolated titanium carbides (dark) can be seen.
Peter Randeholzhofer 3 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Figure 5: Structure thick in the component ring (etched with V2A stain). The cutting plane is
transverse to the direction of deformation. In the left-hand side of the picture, we see a series
of clusters of Ti carbides.
Peter Randeholzhofer 4 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Table 1: Results of chemical analyses
Peter Randeholzhofer 5 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Explanations and Glossary
(1) Duplex stainless steel: the structure consists of ferrite and austenite. Ordinary
structural steels have a ferritic structure (cubic space-centred iron crystallites) with
more or less strong portions of perlite (mixtures of cubic-space-centred iron cones and
iron carbides), depending on the carbon content. Rust-resistant stainless steels such as
1.4301 consist of austenite (cubic-surface-centred iron crystallites). This crystal
modification of the iron enables good cold workability and is achieved by alloying
nickel and chromium. The high chromium content ensures additionally by forming a
chromium oxide covering layer for the corrosion as long as the chromium is not
bound in chromium carbides Welding happen). In the case of the ferritic-austenitic
duplex steel, the nickel content is significantly reduced and the chromium content is
increased. Ferrite and austenite occur side by side, the strength is higher, the corrosion
resistance is better. Due to the low nickel content, these steels are cheaper than
austenitic steels. When converting austenitic steels to duplex steels, it must be
remembered that the deformation and welding behaviour can be significantly different.
(2) Deformation texture: the grains (crystallites) are also microscopically deformed by
macroscopic deformation during rolling, round hammering, etc.
(3) Carbides are compounds of carbon with metal atoms. Titanium carbides are readily
identified in the coloration and, in contrast to chromium carbides, are not critical (see
under 1). Titanium is often alloyed in small amounts to prevent chromium carbides
(4) Inclusions: this refers to oxides and sulphides that degrade the mechanical properties
(5) Sigma phase is the compound FeCr, that can be formed in chromium-containing steels
under unfavourable manufacturing conditions and strongly degrades the mechanical
properties
(6) Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number is a measure of the corrosion resistance of
steels, which arises from its composition. This greater the number, the more
corrosion-resistant the steel is. Steels with values greater than 32 are considered
seawater-resistant (Translator comment: PREN is an empirical relation that uses
composition to rank pitting potential of austenitic stainless steels:
PREN = Cr % + 3.3 Mo % + 16 N%)
Peter Randeholzhofer 6 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Rough translation of German document from DAV by Materials engineer Peter Randelzhoher
Note: Translator additions shown in RED
Summary
Except for the chain links, the steel used is not material that complies with the specification
of Fixe PLX. The duplex steel used for the lugs and rings has, in principle, a higher strength
potential and better corrosion resistance than the austenitic stainless steels usually used for
drill hooks, but is not yet regarded as sea water-resistant because of the lack of Molybdenum.
The elimination of molybdenum reduces the price and improves the weldability.
In principle, the introduction of a new type of material should always be critically observed.
In this case, the challenge is to adjust the manufacturing parameters to the higher strength and
the much more demanding weldability.
Peter Randeholzhofer 7 of 10
Translation A.R. Jarvis 10.3.2017
Anhang
Tab. 1 vergleicht die Spezifikation des Stahls mit den chemischen Analysen der ein-
zelnen Bauteile. In allen Teilen bis auf das Kettenglied liegt der Gehalt des teuren
Elements Nickel an der unteren Grenze der Spezifikation, das noch teurere Molyb-
dän fehlt. Bei den mit OES analysierten Teilen kann ein Kohlenstoffgehalt an der
oberen Grenze der Spezifikation festgestellt werden, was die Schweißbarkeit er-
schwert. Es handelt sich nur beim Kettenglied um Material, das dem Stahl 1.4462
entspricht, alle anderen Teile bestehen aus 1.4362. Das Fehlen von Molybdän hat
gravierende Auswirkungen auf die Beständigkeit gegen interkristalline Korrosion und
Spannungsrisskorrosion. Der 1.4362 ist mit einem PREN-Wert 6 von 23…29 im Kor-
rosionsverhalten dem 1.4301 (PREN 17…21) zwar überlegen, gilt aber gegenüber
dem 1.4462 (PREN-Wert 31…38) nicht als meerwasserbeständig. Weitere Unter-
schiede sind die bessere Schweißbarkeit des 1.4362 sowie der geringere Preis. Tab.
2 vergleicht wesentliche Eigenschaften beider Stähle mit jenen von 1.4301 als typi-
schen Vertreter der austenitischen Stähle.
Lasche
Ring dünn
Cr Ni Mo Mn C P S Si N Al Co Cu Nb Ti V
min 21,0 3,5 2,5 0,0 0,000 0,000 0,000 0,00 0,05
Spec Fixe
max 24,0 6,5 3,5 2,0 0,030 0,035 0,015 1,00 0,22
Ring dick 22,1 4,2 0,2 1,5 0,030 0,029 0,013 0,56 0,15 0,005 0,032 0,300 0,023 0,037 0,120
Stationäre Fun-
kenemission
Lasche 21,1 4,0 0,3 1,2 0,031 0,030 0,013 0,34 0,24 0,007 0,120 0,190 0,013 0,013 0,080
Ring dünn 23,9 4,1 0,2 1,5 0,000 0,033 0,012 0,186
Hand-RFA
Ring dick 26,2 3,7 0,2 1,4 0,000 0,266 0,000 0,140
Tab. 2: Eigenschaften des 1.4301 als typischen Vertreter der austenitischen Stähle im Vergleich mit 1.4362 (Lasche und Ringe) und
1.4462 (Kettenglied) im lösungsgeglühten, nicht kaltverfestigten Zustand nach Angaben der Deutschen Edelstahlwerke.
1.4301 ≥ 190 MPa 500…700 MPa 17,5…21,1 Gut schweißbar, die Korrosionsbeständigkeit kann durch die Wärmeeinbringung reduziert sein.
1.4362 ≥ 400 MPa 600…830 MPa 23,1…29,1 Gut schweißbar, die mechanisch-technologischen Werte können durch die Wärmeeinbringung reduziert
sein.
1.4462 ≥ 450 MPa 650…880 MPa 30,9…38,0 Bedingt schweißbar, enges Parameterfenster, außerhalb davon zwangsläufig schlechte Ergebnisse.
Bis auf die Kettenglieder handelt es sich bei dem verwendeten Stahl nicht um
Material, das der Spezifikation von Fixe PLX entspricht. Der für Lasche und
Ringe verwendete Duplexstahl hat prinzipiell zwar höheres Festigkeitspotential
und bessere Korrosionsbeständigkeit als die üblicherweise für Bohrhaken
verwendeten austenitischen Edelstähle, gilt aber auf Grund des fehlenden Mo-
lybdäns noch nicht als meerwasserbeständig. Der Verzicht auf Molybdän redu-
ziert den Preis und verbessert die Schweißeignung.