HOT

TEARS vs. STRESS CRACKS

Typical indication of a „hot tear“. It’s behaviour is dentritic as it is generated during
solification, between liquidus and solidus temperature. The indication is branchy and
fuzzy, consisting of several indication which are lined up. Typically they can be found at
abrupt changes in wall thickness, at transititions, between chills, generally where hot
spots are existing during solidification.

Typical indication of a „stress crack“. It appears generally more or less as a straight line,
most of the time it’s sharp and fine. It is initiated from stresses caused by welding, heat
treatment, riser cutting, or any other thermal process. Mostly it is developed at lower
temperatures, i.e. 500° C and below, depending on the material. Applying too much
mechanical stresses may also cause this kind of cracks and indications.