Welding of Materials for Energy Applications

Materials will play a critical role in power generation from both new and existing plants that rely on coal, nuclear, and oil/gas as energy supplies. High efficiency power plants are currently being designed that will require materials with improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance under conditions of elevated temperature, stress, and aggressive gaseous environments. Most of these materials will require welding during initial fabrication and plant maintenance. The severe thermal and strain cycles associated with welding can produce large gradients in microstructure and composition within the heat-affected and fusion zones of the weld, and these gradients are commonly accompanied by deleterious changes to properties. Thus, successful use of materials in energy applications hinges on the ability to understand, predict, and control the processing–microstructure–property relations during welding. This article highlights some of the current challenges associated with fusion welding of materials for energy applications.