This study reveals that the microstructure constituents of the welds (pearlite and ferrite) and inclusions characteristics both are having significant effect on mechanical properties of the welds. Twenty fluxes were made by agglomeration technique and were designed using RSM. The optical microscope has been used to see the size of grains, inclusions type, size, distribution and the pattern of inclusions. The microstructure also has been correlated with the mechanical properties. The basicity index of the flux and carbon equivalent of the welds also have been correlated with the weld microstructure constituents.
Basicity index, pearlite content, element transfer, Mn quantity, D microstructure
