Weldability of armor steels by arc welding methods

In the literature researches conducted for armor steels, which are used extensively in the heavy defense industry, it is known that due to the high heat applied in welded joining processes, lower mechanical and metallurgical properties are formed compared to the base metal due to the effect of microstructural changes in the heat affected areas and weld metal. Improvement and development of the weld zone, which has weakened metallurgical, mechanical and ballistic properties due to the welding process, is an extremely important and vital issue for our defense industry, considering the geopolitical and strategic positions of our country. In line with this purpose, in this study, it was aimed to determine the disadvantageous conditions that occur in the welding zone of armor steels, to eliminate or reduce these conditions, to join Protection 500 armor steels by electric arc welding and gas metal arc welding (MAG) welding methods with covered electrode and to investigate the mechanical - metallurgical performances of the joints obtained. The joints obtained were subjected to tensile, microhardness, bending tests and optical microscope, SEM, EDS and fracture surface examinations. When all the results were evaluated together, it was determined that MAG welding was the most efficient welding method in terms of metallurgical and mechanical performance in the welded joints of Protection 500 armor steels, and the most suitable additional material was MG 183 coded additional wire used in MAG welding.