Preheat, Visual arc strikes, welder traceability

➔Preheat
Heating of weldment to a minimum predefined temperature before
start of welding and maintaining the same temperature during
welding which in turn: -
1) Reduces cooling rate- softer structure,
2) Avoid cracking
3) Reduce distortion
4) To remove oil, moisture etc.
Preheat temperature increases with increase in thickness. Preheat
is very critical for high strength materials or alloyed materials. It is
mainly required for ferritic materials and it is not required for
austenitic steel.
➔Interpass Temperature
Maximum temperature allowed in the weldment in between two
subsequent passes which in turn:
1) Reduces chances of IGC,
2) Reduces coarse coarsening in FSS-better impact
toughness.
Typical Interpass temperature :
1) C-Mn steel: 275 deg Celsius
2) Low alloy steel: 250 deg Celsius
3) ASS: 200 deg Celsius
➔DHT (De-Hydrogenation Treatment)
1) Holding at 300-400 deg Celsius for 2-6 hrs after welding and
before cooling down to room temperature.
2) Allows hydrogen to diffuse out from weldment and reduce
chance of hydrogen cracking.
3) Required mainly for LAS and QT steel.
4) For highly restrained joint, DHT is replaced by an intermediate
stress relieving (ISR) at 620 to 660 deg Celsius per 2-4hrs.