Carbon Equivalent

revised July 2013

Item Description C Mn Si Cr Mo Ni Cu V B CE CET Ceq CEN Pcm

(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (IIW)

To Use this Calculator

• Enter the various elemental % contents (by weight) into the appropriate cells above.
• Up to 10 compositions can be entered, for comparison purposes.
• An Item Description such as the Grade Name or Heat Number can optionally be entered as well.

Formulae
CE(IIW) = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15
CET = C + (Mn + Mo)/10 + (Cr + Cu)/20 + Ni/40
Ceq = C + Si/24 + Mn/6 + Ni/40 + Cr/5 + Mo/4 + V/14
CEN = C + A(C) * (Si/24 + Mn/6 + (Cu + Ni)/15 + (Cr + Mo + Nb + V)/5 + 5B), where A(C) = 0.75 + 0.25*tanh(20(C - 0.12))
Pcm = C + Si/30 + (Mn + Cu + Cr)/20 + Ni/60 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B

Notes and Some Limitations of the Carbon Equivalent Formulae

• CE or Carbon Equivalent (sometimes referred to generically as CEQ) and Pcm are calculations that indicate the weldability of a
carbon or low alloy steel
steel. Weldability is loosely defined as resistance to cracking.
cracking Higher CE or Pcm value steels will require more
precautions in welding, such as hydrogen controlled electrodes, control of cooling rate (often by pre-heating or limitations to
interpass temperature) or post weld heat treatment (PWHT).
• The first CE formula used here is from the International Institute of Welding (IIW). The IIW CE formula is the most common but
there are various other alternatives developed specifically to evaluate various materials also given in this calculator. Care must
be taken in using each of these; they are not all appropriate for all steels. Note that the numbers are in some cases quite different
- it is very important to be clear about the CE version being quoted.
• The Pcm (referred to as CE(Pcm) in API 5L) formula is an alternative developed for high strength low carbon steels. This
includes a term for Boron, and is sometimes used for quenched and tempered steel plates. It can also be useful for low carbon
(less than or equal to 0.12%) high strength pipeline steels and is included as a specified property for PSL2 in API 5L. Higher
carbon (over 0.12%) PSL2 pipe steels have a specified limit for CE(IIW).
• The other CE versions listed here - CET, Ceq and CEN - are all used to define carbon equivalent and hence weldability of
Quenched and Tempered steels.
• Steels with CE up to about 0.4 are generally very good weldability, those with CE above 0.40 will require some control over
conditions while those with CE above about 0.8 are usually not recommended for welding. These guidelines will be varied for
specific materials, products and other factors.
• A commonly applied criterion in sour service is that materials must have a CE of no more than 0.43. This is referenced in NACE
Report 8X194 and is a common requirement for carbon steel linepipe; ASTM A106M Supplementary Requirement S6 requires
CE(IIW) of 0.50 maximum.
• AS/NZS 1554.1 uses the CE value to give a "Group Number" - this together with the calculated Combined Joint Thickness and
consideration of other factors such as hydrogen control allows determination of the required preheat, PWHT and welding energy.
WTIA Technical Note 1 provides comentary to this standard.

References
AS/NZS 1554.1 "Structural steel welding - Welding of steel structures"
WTIA Technical Note 1 "The Weldability of Steels"
WTIA Technical Note 15 "Welding & Fabrication of Quenched and Tempered Steel"

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The information contained in this Atlas Steels calculator is not an exhaustive statement of all relevant information. It is a general guide for customers to
the products and services available from Atlas Steels and no representation is made or warranty given in relation to this information or the products or
processes it describes.

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