Basic Weld Metallurgy

WELDABILITY
Basic Steel Weld Metallurgy.

Elements in steel.
Grain structures.
Heat affected zone.
Section 22
Copyright © 2005, TWI Ltd World Centre for Materials Joining Technology
ELEMENTS IN STEEL.
Basic Steel Weld Metallurgy.
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon

(0.01 - 1.4%C). Plain Carbon Steels
Plain Carbon Steels come in three types;
Low Carbon Steels 0.01 - 0.3%C
Medium Carbon Steels 0.3 - 0.6%C
High Carbon Steels 0.6 - 1.4%C
EFFECT OF CARBON IN STEELS.
Carbon is the key element in steels.
It influences;
Strength.
Toughness.
Hardness.
Ductility.
EFFECT OF CARBON IN STEELS
Increase in carbon;
• Increases in tensile
strength.
• Increase in hardness
• Decrease in
elongation (ductility)
PART OF THE IRON CARBON EQUILIBRIUM
DIAGRAM.
Austenite Austenite
Ferrite + Austenite +
Austenite Cementite
Pearlite + Cementite
Ferrite + Pearlite
Low carbon / medium

carbon steels High Carbon steels Cast irons
Hypoeutectoid Hypereutectoid
KEY POINTS.
Iron is Allotropic.
It can exist in two crystalline forms.
Below approximately 723°C the crystal lattice is

Body Centred Cubic (BCC), a 9 atom structure
known as Ferrite or Alpha iron, and is magnetic .
Consists of a mixture of Ferrite & Pearlite.
KEY POINTS.
At approximately 910°C the crystal lattice changes from Body Centred
Cubic to Face Centred Cubic (FCC), a 14 atom structure known as
Austenite or Gamma iron.
In this form steel is non - magnetic.
KEY POINTS.
The Eutectoid Point contains approximately

0.83% carbon.
Above 723°C it will be a mixture of

Ferrite & Austenite.
Below 723°C it is entirely Pearlite .
KEY POINTS.
HYPOEUTECTOID - Below 0.83%C.

Consists of Ferrite and Pearlite.
HYPEREUTECTOID - Above 0.83%C.

Consists of Cementite & Pearlite.
ALLOY STEELS.
Alloy steels contain iron and carbon plus
other alloying elements to give the steel
required mechanical & metallurgical
properties;
Low alloy steels:
Fe & C +Mn,Cr,Ni,Mo < 7% total
High alloy steels:

Fe & C + Mn,Cr,Ni,Mo> 7% total
EFFECT OF OTHER ALLOYING
ELEMENTS.
• Manganese (Mn) - Primary
desulphuriser & secondary deoxidizer.
Added to steels to reduce carbon.
Affects strength & hardenability.
• Silicon (Si) - Primary deoxidizer.
• Aluminium (Al) - Grain refiner & tertiary

deoxidizer.
EFFECTS OF OTHER ALLOYING
ELEMENTS IN STEEL.
• Molybdenum (Mo)- Improves creep
resistance and temper embrittlement.
• Chromium (Cr) - Improves hardness &
resistance to wear. A major element in
stainless steels to give corrosion
resistance.
• Nickel (Ni) - Improves ductility,
strength & toughness. A key element
in austenitic st/st to improve corrosion
resistance from acids.
EFFECTS OF OTHER ALLOYING
ELEMENTS IN STEEL.
• Sulphur (S). An impurity in steels.
Harm full because it can cause “hot
shortness” - cracking during hot
working.
• Phosphor (P). An impurity in steels.
Harm full in steels when over 0.05%
because it can cause “ cold shortness”-
cracking during cold working.
Both elements sometime referred to as tramp

elements.
CARBON CONTENT Vs CARBON
EQUIVALENT.
Carbon Content:
The actual amount of carbon in the steel.
Carbon Equivalent:
The carbon content in relation to other
alloying elements.
Ceq% = C + Mn + Cr + Mo + V + Cu + Ni
6 5 15
EQUIVALENT.
Because Manganese has 1/6 of the effect
on hardenability compared to one part
Carbon.
 The formula can be shortened to;
Ceq% = C + Mn
6
EQUIVALENT.
A steel contains 0.12%C and 1.3%Mn.
What is the carbon equivalent?
Ceq% = C + Mn
6
= 0.12 + 1.3
6
= 0.12 + 0.216r
Ceq = 0.336%
ELEMENTS IN STEEL .
QUESTIONS ?
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
Grain structures in materials are
influenced by:
• Elements in the material.
• Temperature.
• Cooling rate.
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
There are six grain structures that
the welding inspector needs to be aware
of;
1. AUSTENITE.
2. FERRITE.
3. PEARLITE.
4. BAINITE.
5. MARTENSITE.
6. CEMENTITE.
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• AUSTENITE.
A solid solution of gamma iron & carbon

existing above approximately 723°C.
Temperature at which steels are fully
austenitic depends on the carbon content.
 0.1% Carbon - >910°C.
 0.8% Carbon - 730°C.
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• FERRITE.
Primarily pure iron at room temperature,

contains very little or no carbon.
Formed from the austenite region.
Ferrite is very soft and ductile with very
low tensile strength, but has good
machining properties.
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• PEARLITE*
Forms from the austenite region under

slow cooling. A lamellar structure
consisting of very thin plates of ferrite
and cementite. The most frequently
encountered grain structure in
constructional steel.
*Lamellar appearance resembles mother-of-pearl
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• BAINITE
Forms from the austenite region when the

cooling rate is too fast for pearlite to
form.
Harder and usually tougher than pearlite.
Often forms in the HAZ of C-Mn steel
welds
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• MARTENSITE
A very hard & brittle grain structure

formed from the austenite region by
quenching or very fast cooling.
Only forms in plain carbon steels with
carbon>0.3%.
For alloy steels this figure is much lower.
The presence of martensite should be
avoided.
GRAIN STRUCTURES.
• CEMENTITE
The name given to the compound of
iron and carbon, Fe3C (iron-carbide).
A microstructural constituent found as
the normal form of carbon occurring in
many types of steel.
Forms pearlite when interspersed with
ferrite
GRAIN STRUCURES.
• CRITICAL COOLING RATE
The rate of cooling from the austenite

region which determines the final grain
structure.
CRITICAL COOLING RATE.
CRITICAL COOLING RATE.
AUSTENITE REGION
Temperature Range 723ºC - >910ºC Carbon Content<0.1% - 0.8%
Gamma(γ) iron.Face-centered cubic.
Non –magnetic SLOW COOLING

TO AMBIENT
TWO THINGS HAPPEN
AUSTENITE BECOMES CARBON BECOMES

+ CARBON
FERRITE CEMENTITE (Iron Carbide Fe3)
Alpha (α) iron.Body –centered cubic.
Magnetic PEARLITE
GRAIN STRUCTURES .
QUESTIONS ?
HEAT AFFECTED ZONE (HAZ).
THREE FACTORS WHICH WILL AFFECT THE

MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE HAZ:
1. MATERIAL COMPOSITION.
ESPECIALLY CARBON CONTENT.
2. HEAT INPUT.
THE HIGHER THE H.I.(ARC ENERGY) THE
WIDER THE HAZ.
3. COOLING RATE.
THE FASTER THE COOLING RATE THE HARDER
THE HAZ. ESPECIALLY IF CEQ% IS HIGH.
Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)
Temperature
Maximum
solid solid-liquid Boundary
weld
grain growth zone
metal
recrystallised zone
partially transformed zone
tempered zone
unaffected base
material
1. Coarse grain region
>1100°C
2. Grain refined region
900 -1100°C 3. Partial transformation
4. Region of spherodization
750 - 900°C
< 750°C
1 2 3 4
GRAIN STRUCTURES .
QUESTIONS ?
Coarse Grain Region:

Basic Weld Metallurgy

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Weld Metallurgy

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WELDABILITY

Basic Steel Weld Metallurgy.

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon

Low carbon / medium

Below approximately 723°C the crystal lattice is

Consists of a mixture of Ferrite & Pearlite.

In this form steel is non - magnetic.

The Eutectoid Point contains approximately

Above 723°C it will be a mixture of

Below 723°C it is entirely Pearlite .

HYPOEUTECTOID - Below 0.83%C.

HYPEREUTECTOID - Above 0.83%C.

High alloy steels:

• Silicon (Si) - Primary deoxidizer.

• Aluminium (Al) - Grain refiner & tertiary

Both elements sometime referred to as tramp

• Elements in the material.

A solid solution of gamma iron & carbon

Primarily pure iron at room temperature,

Forms from the austenite region under

Forms from the austenite region when the

A very hard & brittle grain structure

The rate of cooling from the austenite

Non –magnetic SLOW COOLING

TWO THINGS HAPPEN

AUSTENITE BECOMES CARBON BECOMES

THREE FACTORS WHICH WILL AFFECT THE

Coarse Grain Region:

You might also like