Kondapalli Siva Prasad - Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology &Sciences , Visakhapatnam, India
Chalamalasetti Srinivasa Rao - Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, AU College of Engineering, Andhra University,Visakhapatnam, India
Damera Nageswara Rao - Vice Chancellor, Centurion University of Technology & Management, Odisha, India

Austenitic stainless steel sheets have gained wide acceptance in the fabrication of components, which require high temperature resistance and corrosionresistance such as metal bellows used in expansion joints in aircraft, aerospace and petroleum industries. In the case of single pass welding of thinner sectionsof this alloy, Pulsed Current Micro Plasma Arc Welding (PCMPAW) has been found beneficial due to its advantages over the conventional continuouscurrent process. This paper highlighted development of empirical mathematical equations using multiple regression analysis, correlating variousprocess parameters to pitting corrosion rates in PCMPAW of AISI 304L sheets in 1 Normal HCl. The experiments were conducted based on a fivefactor, five level central composite rotatable design matrix. The model adequacy was checked by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The main effectsand interaction effects of the welding process parameters on pitting corrosion rates of the welded joints were studied using surface and contour plots. From the contour plots, it was understood that peak current was the most influencing factor on the pitting corrosion rate. The optimum pitting corrosion rate was achieved at peak current of 6 Amperes, base current of 4 Amperes, pulse rateof 40 pulses/second and pulse width of 50 %

AISI 304L,Pulsed current, Micro plasma arc welding, Pitting corrosion