AISI 304 Bars welded with CDW technology: welding parameters and mechanical properties

Repair methods employed to date, such as TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, EBW (electron beam welding) and MPW (micro plasma welding) lead to a large heat-affected zone (HAZ) and elevated distortion is induced in the component. In alternative to the above-stated methods, linear friction welding and Capacitor Discharge Welding provide drastic reductions in the size of the HAZ assure good mechanical properties and allow elevated dimensional accuracy, reducing the subsequent machining time. CDW is performed by the means of an high-intensity current flow, produced by the discharge of a capacitor battery; several specimens have been welded with several combinations of the main parameters involved, applying a statistical approach. All the specimens have been machined according to ASTM standards and static and Fatigue tests have been done to correlate the results to the welding parameters.