scope:

This report describes a program conducted under the auspices of the Welding Research Council (WRC) Subcommittee on Welding Stainless Steel to identify the optimum procedure for the preparation of austenitic stainless steel weld samples for Ferrite Number (FN) determination. In order to evaluate candidate sample preparation procedures, a population of samples was prepared by each of the candidate procedures. These samples were then submitted for a round robin FN measurement program. In this program, FN measurements were made using magnetic instrument (Magnet- Gage) techniques. The data obtained in this measurement program was compiled and statistically analyzed to yield the mean FN and standard deviation for each candidate procedure sample population. Examination of these statistical data permitted a comparison of the reproducibility of FN measurements for each of the candidate procedures. The mean FN data was also compared. The optimum sample preparation procedure was identified as yielding the best combination of low standard deviation, moderate mean FN, simplicity of application, and low cost. This sample preparation procedure has since been incorporated into AWS A5.4.