Weldability Objective

When this presentation has been completed you

will have a greater understanding of what this
term means and have a better understanding of
cracking mechanisms and how steels and alloys
are defined.
Weldability of Steels

Section 17

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Weldability of Steels Weldability of Steels

Definition  The weldability of steel is mainly dependant on

It relates to the ability of the metal (or alloy) to
be welded with mechanical soundness by most
of the common welding processes. The resulting
welded joint retain the properties for which it
has been designed is a function of many inter-
related factors but these may be summarised
as:
 Composition of parent material.
 Joint design and size.
 Process and technique.
 Access.
carbon and other alloying elements content.
 If a material has limited weldability, we need
to take special measures to ensure the
maintenance of the properties required.
 Poor weldability normally results in the
occurrence of cracking.
 A steel is considered to have poor weldability
when:
 An acceptable joint can only be made by using very
narrow range of welding conditions.
 Great precautions to avoid cracking are essential (eg
high pre-heat etc).

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The Effect of Alloying on Steels Steel Alloying Elements

 Elements may be added to steels to produce Iron (Fe):

the properties required to make it useful for
an application.
 Most elements can have many effects on the
properties of steels.
 Other factors which affect material properties
are:
 The temperature reached before and during welding.
 Heat input.
 The cooling rate after welding and or PWHT.
Main steel constituent. On its own, is relatively soft,
ductile, with low strength.
Carbon (C):
Major alloying element in steels, a strengthening element
with major influence on HAZ hardness. Decreases
weldability typically < ~ 0.25%.
Manganese (Mn):
Secondary only to carbon for strength, toughness and
ductility, secondary de-oxidiser and also reacts with
sulphur to form manganese sulphides typically < ~0.8% is
residual from steel de-oxidation. Up to ~1.6% (in C-Mn
steels) improves strength and toughness.
Silicon (Si):
Residual element from steel de-oxidation typically to
~0.35%.

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17-1