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 depending on the material, the changes may give –
higher or lower strength, susceptibility to cracking, reduced corrosion resistance or lower toughness. As a result of this, the
HAZ is often an area where failures can occur.

Reduced corrosion resistance is a 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 in the HAZ,
causing the local 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, also known as sensitisation or weld decay.

In conventional steels, hydrogen embrittlement is another undesirable side-effect of the high temperatures, whereby
atomic hydrogen dissolved in the weld metal is trapped in the cooling weld, and is rejected into the transforming HAZ. The
hydrogen diffuses to the region of greatest strain (usually the weld toes or HAZ), creating additional pressure within the
lattice and potentially causing cracking. Hydrogen can be removed by the correct selection of welding parameters, and
preheating or postheating as appropriate.

In some cases, the HAZ is harder and stronger than the parent material, which can cause problems, but in others, such as
aluminium, the HAZ is softer and weaker than the parent material. These can both be challenges for design and use of
components.