PWHT parameters: Rate of heating, temperature, uniformity of temperature, holding time and rate of cooling.

Time-temperature relationships are governed by material (P-no) and nominal thickness. ominal thickness is !eld thickness or pressure retainer thickness for structural attachment !elds, or thinner of pressure retaining materials being "oined, !hichever is least.

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$ydrogen cracking, also called cold cracking, re%uires all three of these factors & $ydrogen & 'tress & 'usceptible microstructure (high hardness) (ccurs belo! )**+, Prevention by & Preheat slo!s do!n the cooling rate- this can help avoid martensite formation and supplies heat to diffuse hydrogen out of the material & .o!-hydrogen !elding procedure

Preheat reduces the temperature differential bet!een the !eld region and the base metal & Reduces the cooling rate, !hich reduces the chance of forming martensite in steels & Reduces distortion and shrinkage stress & Reduces the danger of !eld cracking & /llo!s hydrogen to escape 0f the base material is preheated, heat flo!s more slo!ly out of the !eld region & 'lo!er cooling rates avoid martensite formation Preheat allo!s hydrogen to diffuse from the metal

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T base

Cooling rate ( T - Tbase)3

T base

Cooling rate ( T - Tbase)2

,arbon e%uivalent (,1) measures ability to form martensite, !hich is necessary for hydrogen cracking & ,1 2 *.)3 no preheat or post!eld heat treatment & *.)3 2 ,1 2 *.33 preheat & *.33 2 ,1 preheat and post!eld heat treatment Preheat temp. as ,1 and plate thickness CE = %C + %Mn/6 + %(Cr+Mo+V)/5 + %(Si+Ni+Cu)/15

4hy Post-4eld $eat Treat5 # # The fast cooling rates associated !ith !elding often produce martensite 6uring post!eld heat treatment, martensite is tempered (transforms to ferrite and carbides) & Reduces hardness & Reduces strength & 0ncreases ductility & 0ncreases toughness Residual stress is also reduced by the post!eld heat treatment

Post!eld $eat Treatment and $ydrogen ,racking # # # Post!eld heat treatment (7 89**+:) tempers any martensite that may have formed & 0ncrease in ductility and toughness & Reduction in strength and hardness Residual stress is decreased by post!eld heat treatment Rule of thumb: hold at temperature for 8 hour per inch of plate thicknessminimum hold of )* minutes