1.

Weldability of Metals

1. Weldability of Metals

DIN 8580 and DIN 8595 classify welding into production technique main group 4 "Joining,
group 3.6 "Joining by welding, Figure 1.1.

Production Techniques
DIN 8580

Main group
2
Deforming

Main group
1
Forming

Group
4.1
Assembling

Group
4.2
Filling

Group
4.3
Pressing

Main group
3
Separating

Group
4.4
Joining by
forming

Main group
4
Joining
DIN 8593

Group
4.5
Joining by
deforming

Main group
5
Plating

Group
4.6
Joining by
welding

Sub-group
4.6.1
Pressure welding

Main group
6
Changing material
characteristics

Group
4.7
Joining by
soldering

Group
4.8
Bonding

Sub-group
4.6.2
Fusion welding

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Classification of Production Techniques

to DIN 8580

Figure 1.1

Material
Welding suitability

Weldability of a component is determined

by three outer features according to DIN
8528, Part 1. This also indicates whether a

in
De g saf
sig ety
n

ility
sib
os
g p ture
ldin fac
We anu
M

Figure 1.2.

Weldability
of a
component

We
ld

given joining job can be done by welding,

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Influencing Factors on
Weldability to DIN 8528 Part 1

Figure 1.2

1. Weldability of Metals

Material influence on weldability, i.e. welding suitability, can be detailed for a

better

understanding

in

three subdefinitions, Figure

1.3.
The chemical composition of
a material and also its metallurgical

properties

are

mainly set during its production, Figure 1.4. They have a

very strong influence on the

Figure 1.3

physical
characteristics of the material.
Process steps on steel manufacturing, shown in Figure 1.4, are the essential steps on the
way to a processible and usable material.
During manufacture, the requested chemical
composition (e.g. by alloying) and metallurgiBlast furnace:
Reduction of ore to
raw iron
Intake of C, S, and P

Top-blow (BOF)-, bottom

blow (OBM)-, stirrerconverter

Converter:
Removal of C and P
through oxygen and CaO

cal properties (e.g. type of teeming) of the

steel are obtained.
Another modification of the material behaviour takes place during subsequent treatment,
where the raw material is rolled to processible

Injection of
solid material
or feeding
cored wires

Ladle treatment:
Alloying and vacuum
degassing (removal
of N2, H2, CO/CO2)
Ladle treatment
electrically heated

semi-finished goods, e.g. like strips, plates,

bars, profiles, etc.. With the rolling process,
material-typical

transformation

processes,

hardening and precipitation processes are

used to adjust an optimised material characContinuous casting:
casting of billets,
blooms, slabs
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Important Process Steps

During Steel Production

Figure 1.4

teristics (see chapter 2).

1. Weldability of Metals

A survey from quality point of view about the influence of the most important alloy elements
to some mechanical and metallurgical properties is shown in Figure 1.5.

Si

Mn

Cr

Ni

Al

Tensile strength

(-)

Hardness

Charpy-V-toughness

(-)

++

--

Hot cracking
Creep resistance

+(-400C)

(+)

Critical
cooling rate

Formation
of seggregations

++

++

Formation
of inclusions

++
(+)

(-)

++

+
+
with Mn with S

+ Increase of property
++ Strong increase of property

--

+
with Al

Decrease of property
Strong decrease of property
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Influence of Alloy Elements

on Some Steel Properties

Figure 1.5

Figure 1.6 depicts the decisive importance of the carbon content to suitability of
fusion welding of mild steels.
A guide number of flawless
fusion weldability is a carbon
content of C < 0,22 %. with

C-content (%)
(Melt analysis)

Fusion weldability

S185 (St 33) [EN 10 025]

unlimited
(up to 0,30)

Not guaranteed, however mostly no

problem with low C-content

S250GT (St 34), S235JR (St 37),

S275JR (St 42) [EN 10 025]
L235GT (St 35), L275GT (St 45)
[Steels for tubing EN 10 208]
P235GH (H I), P265GH (H II), P285NH (H III)
[Steels for pressure vessel construction EN10 028]
C10 (C 10), C15 (C 15), C22 (C 22)
[Case hardening and tempering steels EN 10 083]

up to 0,21

up to 0,22% C: good weldable (exception:

plate thickness <0,5 mm, special order
condtions), as long as content of
impurities (P,S etc.) not too high

S355J0 (St 52)

up to 0,22 and higher

contents of Mn and Si

Weldable

E295 (St 50) Steel for mechanical engineering

unlimited,
about 0,30

Restricted weldability with electric arc

methods, no gas welding of thin plates.

E355 (St 60), C35 (C 35)

about 0,40

Weldable with special electrodes and

mostly pre- and post-welding heat
treatment.

E360 (St 70), C45 (C 45)

about 0,50

Very restricted weldability in spite

of special measures

Material

up to 0,17
up to 0,22
up to 0,18 (up to 0,24)

higher C contents, there is a

danger of hardening, and
welding becomes only pos-

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sible by observing special

Fusion Weldability of
Unalloyed Quality Steels

precautions (e.g. pre- and

post-weld heat treatment).

Figure 1.6

1. Weldability of Metals

In addition to material behaviour, weldability is also essentially determined through the design
of a component. The influence of the design is designated as welding safety, Figure 1.7.

Welding Safety

(Welding safety due to design)

Design

Stress condition

e.g. Power flow in workpiece

Arrangement of joints
Material thickness
Notch effect
Stiffness differences

e.g. Type and Level of strain in workpiece

Dimensional degree of strain
Stress speed
Temperature
Corrosion

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Welding Safety

Figure 1.7

Welding Possibility

The influence of the manufac(welding possibility due to manufacture)

turing process to weldability is

called welding possibility,
Figure 1.8. For example, a
pre-

and

post-weld

heat

treatment is not always possible, or grinding the weld surface

before

welding

the

Welding
preparation
e.g. Welding method
Consumble type
and auxiliaries
Joint type
Groove shape
Preheating
Actions in the case
of unfavourable
weather conditions

Execution of
welding
e.g. Heat control
Heat input
Welding sequence

Welding Possibility

carried out (narrow gap welding).

Figure 1.8

e.g. Post-weld heat treatment

Grinding
Pickling

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subsequent pass cannot be

Post-treatment