Article: The Schaeffler and Delong diagr...

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The Schaeffler and Delong diagrams for predicting ferrite

levels in austenitic stainless steel welds
Introduction
Ferrite is important in avoiding hot cracking in during cooling from welding of austenitic stainless steels.
'Constitution diagrams' are used to predict ferrite levels from the composition by comparing the effects of
austenite and ferrite stabilising elements. The Schaeffler and Delong diagrams are the original methods of
predicting the phase balances in austenitic stainless steel welds.

Nickel and chromium equivalents

A 'nickel equivalent' is calculated for the austenite stabilising elements and a 'chromium equivalent' ferrite
stabilising elements. These are used as the axes for the diagrams, which show the compositional equivalent
areas where the phases austenite, ferrite, martensite (and mixtures of these) should be present. Although
intended to show the phase balance of weld fillers, these diagrams can also be used to illustrate the phase
balance of the 'parent' material. There are different diagrams for different alloy systems.

Schaffler Diagram

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The nickel and chromium equivalents use the formulae.

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Ni (eq) = Ni + (30 x C) + (0.5 x Mn)

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Steel

Cr (eq) = Cr + Mo + (1.5 x Si) + (0.5 x Nb)

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This gives a diagram that is useful for the austenitic steels, except those with nitrogen additions. The values for
typical 304(1.4301) and 316(1.4401) compositions are shown below.
.
304(1.4301)
316(1.4401)

Ni (equiv)
10.15
13.15

Cr (equiv)
18.92
19.83

The diagram, identifying the phase boundaries is shown below.

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Article: The Schaeffler and Delong diagr...

3/11/2011

Article: The Schaeffler and Delong diagr...

Delong Diagram
This refines the Schaffler diagram by taking account of the strong austenite stabilising tendency of nitrogen. The
chromium equivalent is unaffected but the nickel equivalent is modified to
Ni (eq) = Ni + (30 x C) + (0.5 x Mn) + (30 x N)
The diagram, identifying the phase boundaries is shown below. This shows the ferrite levels in bands, both as
percentages, based on metallographic determinations and as a ferrite number 'FN', based on magnetic
determination methods.

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Article: The Schaeffler and Delong diagr...

3/11/2011