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WEL DAB I LI T Y
lntroduction
As a resultof tne heal rnputto whichthe steelis exDoseoin any form oi
weldingthe materialundergoescertainchanges,some of whichare
permanent.Amongstthesechangesare structurajtransformatron
duflng
heatjngand coolingand changesin shape or size due to the thermaistresses.
A steelwhich can be weldedwjthoutany dangerousconsequences
resulting
from thesechangesis said to possessgood weldability. lf, on the other
hand, the changesdue to a normalweldingprocessare in seriousdangerof
causingfarlurein a weldedcomponent,or if actualdefectssuch as cracking
occur duringwelding,the steel is said to possesslimited weldabilityand can
in most cases be welded,withoutrisk,providedcertainprecautions
are taken
or certainpre- or post-weldingtreatmentscarriedout. The term'unweldable
steels'rs unrealistic.Any steelcen be weldedprovidedcorrectmetallurgical
conditionsare chosen. Sometimes,however,theseconditionsmay be
impossibleto realisein practicalproductionwork.
Weldabilityof steel
Weldabililyis a functiorof many inter-relatedfactorsbut thesemay be
summansedas :
1 . C o m p o s i t i oonf p a r e n tp l a t e
2 . J o i n td e s i g na n d s i z e
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Prnnocr

:nd

lonhninrro

I n f l u e n c eo f o r o c e s s
Each processwill give a characteristic
intensityof power. Processeswhich
offer the higherpowerintensityofferadvantagesin fusionweldingbecausethe
essentiaimeltingcan be obtarnedwithouiexcessiveheat inputswith the
consequentthermalexpansionof the parentmetal.
Successfulweldingoftendependson feedinginto the weld poola fillerwire
which carriesa deoxidant(or ferriteformingelements)henceprocesseswhich
do not use fillerwiresare limitedin aoolication.

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TH' NELDI\G INSTJII--

I n f l u e n c eo f c o m p o s i t i o n
The compositionof the steeland its effecton weldability
may be dividedir.to
IWOpans:
1. Segregationeffects, particularlythat of sulphur
When a steelsolidifies,
there is a tendencyfor the iron to solidifyfast and
for the alloyingelementsto be accumulatedin the centreof the tngot. This
configurationis retainedeven after prolongedand severe rollingand results
in high concentrations
of sulphurin the centrallayersof the plate. These
layers have ljttlestrengthand are likelyto crack if stressed.
2. The tendency of the steel to harden
The hardeningcharacteristics
of steelwill be mentionedin the heat
treatmentsession. As the carbonor a.lloycontentof the steelincreases,
the likelihoodof low ductility,hardenedmicrostructures
formingalso
increasesand should stressesexist crackinqwill result.

TYPICALWELDABILITYDEFECTS
1 . S O L I D I F I C A T I OCNF I A C K I N G
Causedby sulphurfrom the parentmaterial. Duringthe solidiflcation
of the
weld metal one is left with thjn iron sulphidefilmsbetweenthe solidifying
grainswhich possessvery littletensilestfength- crackingresults.
2. HYDROGENCRACKING(under bead cracking/hardzone cracking)
This phenomenoncan occurdurrngthe weldingof hardenableferriticsieels.
Factorsinvolved:
1.
2.
3.
4.

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h a r dn e s s
stress
temoerature
hydrogen level

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TIIE WLDING NSTITUTE

3. LAMELI-AR TEARING
rs a problem involvingpoor "throughthickness"ductilityand visuallyoccurs
rn tee or cofner joints in thick ferriticsteels where high shrinkagesirains aci
through the plate thicknessin combinationwith parent metal intlusions. A
"step-like"
crack may occur.
4. WELD DECAY IN AUSTENITICSTAINLESSSTEELS
Occurs in the HAZ due to the precipitationof chromiumcarbidesat the
grain boundariesresultingin a chromiumdeficiencyin the grains
themselves. Becauseof the loss of chromium,corrosionresistanceis
lost - "rusting"results.

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THE WELDING L\iSTILTE

OUESTIONS
WELDABIUTY

a)1

Listthe four (4) generarfactorswhichmustbe assessedto detefmine

the levelof preheat.

Listthree(3) typesof cracksfoundin weldmentsand theircauses.

In which type (composition)of steel is weld decay experienced?

Q4

How can the level of hardnessin the heat affectedzone (H.A.Z.)be

controlled.

Describe
thefullheattreatment
requirement
required
for ensurino

that basic electrodesare low in hvdrooen.

QS16