Solidification Cracking Solidification Cracking

Precautions for controlling solidification Add Manganese to weld metal

cracking
Spherical Mn Sulphide balls
 The use of high manganese and low carbon form between solidified grains
content fillers.
 Minimise the amount of stress/restraint acting
on the joint during welding. Cohesion and strength between
 The use of high quality parent materials, low grains remains
levels of impurities (phosphor and sulphur).
 Clean joint preparations contaminants (oil,
grease, paints and any other sulphur containing
product).
 Joint design selection depth to width ratios. Contractional strain

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Solidification Cracking Cracks

Solidification cracking in austenitic stainless steel

 Particularly prone to solidification cracking.
 Large grain size gives rise to a reduction in grain
boundary area with high concentration of impurities.
 Austenitic structure very intolerant to contaminants
(sulphur, phosphorous and other impurities).
Lamellar Tearing
 High coefficient of thermal expansion/low coefficient
of thermal conductivity, with high resultant residual
stress.
 Same precautions against cracking as for plain
carbon steels with extra emphasis on thorough
cleaning and high dilution controls.

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Lamellar Tearing Lamellar Tearing

 Location: Parent metal just below the HAZ.

 Steel Type: Any steel type possible.
 Susceptible Microstructure: Poor through thickness
ductility.

 Lamellar tearing has a step like appearance due to the

solid inclusions in the parent material (eg sulphides and
Step like appearance
silicates) linking up under the influence of welding
stresses.
 Low ductile materials (often related to thickness) in the
short transverse direction containing high levels of
impurities are very susceptible to lamellar tearing.
 It forms when the welding stresses act in the short
transverse direction of the material (through thickness
direction). Cross section

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