11/28/2020 Which is important - preheat or interpass?

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WHICH IS IMPORTANT - PREHEAT

OR INTERPASS?

  

Frequently Asked Questions

Preheat is the temperature to which the surfaces to be welded together are heated, before

welding commences. Interpass temperature is the temperature at which subsequent weld

runs are deposited. Procedures can specify a maximum interpass temperature, which is done

to control weld metal microstructural development, and also ensures that the weld is similar to

the welds made in the procedure quali cation. Minimum interpass temperatures are

maintained to control hydrogen cracking, and in most cases are similar to the preheat

temperature.

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11/28/2020 Which is important - preheat or interpass? - TWI

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All the weld runs in a joint will have the same hydrogen input, cooling capacity and

composition, and therefore similar preheat (minimum interpass) requirements, dependent on

heat input, to avoid hydrogen cracking . A possible exception to this would be the root pass,

which may have a higher stress concentration than the remainder of the joint, and so the root

region may require a higher preheat than the minimum interpass temperature of the lling

passes.

Some materials need the interpass temperature to be maintained for a period of time to

encourage hydrogen escape from the material between passes. In these cases, the minimum

interpass temperature is the minimum temperature reached between passes, rather than the

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11/28/2020 Which is important - preheat or interpass? - TWI

minimum temperature at which any run is deposited. As increasing numbers of passes are

deposited, the hydrogen in the weld has further to di use before reaching a free surface, so

hydrogen is more likely to become trapped in the steel and to be the cause of cracking upon

nal cooling. Thus, maintaining interpass temperature for a longer period of time may reduce

the need for postheat after welding, as the hydrogen is encouraged to di fuse out of the weld

during the welding operation.

For high alloy materials, it can be important to allow the weld to cool to below the

transformation temperature between passes, as too high an interpass temperature will allow

the weld to remain austenitic. Hydrogen has a higher solubility in austenite than ferrite, and

also a slower di usion rate, so if the weld is austenitic throughout welding, less hydrogen will

escape from the steel and cracking may occur upon nal transformation. The transformation

from austenite to ferrite between passes also allows microstructural re nement or tempering,

from heating by subsequent passes.

It is necessary to select a method of preheat control which is appropriate to the welding

operation. For example, when there is a need for stringent interpass control, certain

preheating methods, such as local preheating ahead of the moving welding torch, which can

allow the interpass temperature to fall below the minimum interpass temperature, are not

suitable.

See further information about Materials and Corrosion Management or please contact us.

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