What Is The Heat Affected Zone (Haz) ?: Home Technical Knowledge Faqs

What is the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)?
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WHAT IS THE HEAT AFFECTED

ZONE (HAZ)?
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What is the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)? - TWI Page 2 of 9
The heat affected zone (HAZ) is a non-melted area of metal that has undergone
changes in material properties as a result of being exposed to high
temperatures. These changes in material property are usually as a result of
welding or high-heat cutting. The HAZ is the area between the weld or cut and
the base, parent metal.
The HAZ area can vary in
severity and size depending
on the properties of the
materials, the concentration
and intensity of the heat,
and the welding or cutting
process used.
What are the

Causes of Heat-Affected Zones?
The heat affected zone is influenced by the level of thermal diffusivity, which is
dependent on the thermal conductivity, density and specific heat of a substance.
Those materials with a high level of thermal diffusivity are able to transfer
variations of heat faster, meaning they cool quicker and, as a result, the HAZ is
reduced. On the other hand, those materials with a lower coefficient retain the
heat, meaning that that the HAZ is wider. Generally speaking, the extension of the
HAZ is dependent on the amount of heat applied, the duration of exposure to heat
and the properties of the material itself. When a material is exposed to greater
amounts of energy for longer periods the HAZ is larger.
With regard to welding procedures, those processes with high rates of heat input
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will cool faster, leading to a smaller HAZ, whereas slower rates of heat input will
have a slower rate of cooling, leading to a larger HAZ. In addition, the size of the
HAZ also grows as the speed of the welding process decreases. Weld geometry is
another factor that plays a role in the HAZ size.
High temperature cutting operations can also cause a HAZ and, similarly to
welding procedures, those processes that operate at higher temperatures and
slow speeds tend to create a larger HAZ, while lower temperature or higher speed
cutting processes tend to reduce the HAZ size. The depth of the HAZ is determined
by the cutting process, cutting speed, and the material properties and thickness.
Different cutting processes have differing effects on the HAZ, regardless of the
material being cut. For example, shearing and waterjet cutting do not create a HAZ
as they do not overheat the material, while laser cutting creates a small HAZ due
to the heat only being applied to a small area. Meanwhile, plasma cutting leads to
an intermediate HAZ, with the higher currents allowing for an increased cutting
speed and thereby a narrower HAZ, while oxyacetylene cutting creates the widest
HAZ due to the high heat, slow speed and flame width. Arc welding falls between
the two extremes, with individual processes varying in heat input.
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HAZ Areas
While the HAZ occurs between the weld or cutting zone and the unaffected parent
metal, the HAZ itself has different areas according to how close they are to where
the cutting or welding heat was applied to the material.
The cutting or weld zone is the liquid region where the process itself takes place
and is adjoined by the fusion boundary. The fusion boundary is the border of the
fusion zone where the liquid and solid phases of the metal coexist. Further from
the weld or cutting zone is the HAZ itself, which is where the non-melted parent
metal has experienced changes to the microstructure. The HAZ can be broken
down into the grain growth zone (closest to the heated area), the recrystallized
zone, the partially transformed zone and the tempered zone. Outside of these HAZ
areas is the unaffected base material.
The various HAZ areas are formed by differing temperatures in the base metal
further from the weldSubscribe

or cut itself.
to This can, for example,
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series of visible coloured
the bands, caused
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surface oxidation,
from TWI: near a weld in
stainless steel. These different colours, also known as heat tint, offer an
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approximate indication of the temperature reached by the metal. In the case of
stainless steel type 1.4301 (AISI 304) heated in open air, the band colours and
associated temperatures are as follows:
Light yellow 290 °C / 550 °F
Straw yellow 340 °C / 640 °F
Yellow 370 °C / 700 °F
Brown 390 °C / 735 °F
Purple brown 420 °C / 790 °F
Dark purple 450 °C / 840 °F
Blue 540 °C / 1000 °F
Dark blue 600 °C / 1110 °F
The heat tint colours depend on the material’s resistance to oxidation, with those
metals with a higher steel chromium content showing less intense colouration as
they are more resistant to oxidation. The use of protective gas and electrode
coatings can also reduce heat tint as they partially shield the metal from oxidation.
Conversely, rougher surfaces oxidise faster, causing darker colours. In addition,
paint, oil, rust and even fingerprints can alter the heat tint, although they do not
impact the extent of the HAZ itself.
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What are the Effects of Heat-Affected Zones?
Due to the heating experienced within the HAZ, the microstructure and properties
in this region change so that they differ to that of the base material. These
changes are usually undesirable and lead to this area becoming weaker than the
base metal. This can, in turn, lead to residual stress, welds cracks (both hot
cracking and cold cracking), increased brittleness, lowered material strength and a
lessened resistance to corrosion. As a result of this, the HAZ is often the area
where failures occur.
Furthermore, in stainless steels, surface nitriding can lead to increased hardness
and a decreased weldability. Corrosion is another common side-effect of the high
temperatures experienced by the HAZ in stainless steels. The heat produced in the
weld bead area causes chromium carbides to precipitate around the grain
boundaries, causing the chromium content to drop below 10.5%, at which point
the steel loses the ability to form a passive film and is no longer stainless. This
results in intergranular corrosion.
Hydrogen embrittlement is another undesirable side-effect of the high
temperatures, whereby gas diffuses through the weld metal, creating pressure
within the lattice and reducing the tensile strength and toughness of the metal.
Unless the hydrogen gas is removed it can cause a spontaneous type of cracking in
just 24 hours after heating.
In some cases, the heating can generate localised hardening and austenitic
stainless steels can become martensitic, increasing both hardness and brittleness.
In other cases, heated metal can become weaker.
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How to Reduce the Heat Affected Zone
Reducing the heat affected zone can help alleviate the related problems of HAZ
cracks, corrosion, embrittlement, and so forth. This can be achieved by heat
treatment following the normalisation or annealing of the material. However, this
process can be costly and time-consuming and may not offer a complete solution.
Heat treating is also limited by the comparative size of the part and the torch or
furnace used for the treatment.
Cutting can also be used an alternative to heat treatment to reduce the impact of
the HAZ. This can be achieved through either grinding or cutting, although care
needs to be taken not to introduce more heat to the part.
Machining is the most effective way to remove the entire HAZ, but this can reduce
the material yield as well as increasing labour and machine time.
Finally, heat tint from oxidation can be ground away or removed with fine
sandpaper. This will expose the underlying layer and activate self-passivation of
the chromium – although this can also weaken the part.
Ideally, the heat affected zone should be minimised through the selection of the
correct welding or cutting process for the material. TWI can help with this type of
selection as well as being able to advise on the best materials for your job.
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For assistance with welding, cutting, materials selection and the heat affected
zone, please email:
contactus@twi.co.uk
TWI Ltd (Head Office)
Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK
+44(0)1223 899000
contactus@twi.co.uk
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What is the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)?

Home > Technical Knowledge > FAQs >

WHAT IS THE HEAT AFFECTED

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the latest news and events from TWI:

changes in material properties as a result of being exposed to high

temperatures. These changes in material property are usually as a result of

the base, parent metal.

The HAZ area can vary in

severity and size depending

on the properties of the

materials, the concentration

and intensity of the heat,

and the welding or cutting

What are the

dependent on the thermal conductivity, density and specific heat of a substance.

another factor that plays a role in the HAZ size.

welding procedures, those processes that operate at higher temperatures and

the two extremes, with individual processes varying in heat input.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive

the latest news and events from TWI:

the cutting or welding heat was applied to the material.

areas is the unaffected base material.

further from the weldSubscribe

associated temperatures are as follows:

Light yellow 290 °C / 550 °F

Straw yellow 340 °C / 640 °F

Yellow 370 °C / 700 °F

Brown 390 °C / 735 °F

Purple brown 420 °C / 790 °F

Dark purple 450 °C / 840 °F

Blue 540 °C / 1000 °F

Dark blue 600 °C / 1110 °F

Conversely, rougher surfaces oxidise faster, causing darker colours. In addition,

impact the extent of the HAZ itself.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive

the latest news and events from TWI:

What are the Effects of Heat-Affected Zones?

where failures occur.

Furthermore, in stainless steels, surface nitriding can lead to increased hardness

and a decreased weldability. Corrosion is another common side-effect of the high

results in intergranular corrosion.

Hydrogen embrittlement is another undesirable side-effect of the high

just 24 hours after heating.

How to Reduce the Heat Affected Zone

cracks, corrosion, embrittlement, and so forth. This can be achieved by heat

treatment following the normalisation or annealing of the material. However, this

furnace used for the treatment.

needs to be taken not to introduce more heat to the part.

the material yield as well as increasing labour and machine time.

the chromium – although this can also weaken the part.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive

the latest news and events from TWI:

zone, please email:

TWI Ltd (Head Office)

Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK

Subscribe to our newsletters

Copyright © 2020 TWI Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive

the latest news and events from TWI:

Training and Examinations

The Test House

TWI Innovation Network