A type 316 stainless steel pipe reducer section failed in service of bleached pulp stock transfer within 2 years in a pulp and paper mill. The reducer section fractured in the heat-affected zone of the flange-to-pipe weld on the flange side. The pipe reducer section consisted of 250 and 200 mm (10 and 8 in.) diam flanges welded to a tapered pipe section. The tapered pipe section was 3.3 mm (0.13 in.) thick type 316 stainless steel sheet, and the flanges were 5 mm (0.2 in.) thick CF8M (type 316) stainless steel castings. Visual and metallographic analysis indicated that...