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strength steels
by Lars-Erik Svensson, Esab AB, Gteborg, Sweden
Figure 1 Micrographs illustrating the variation in the microstructure of weld metals with various strength levels
(a) a weld metal with a yield strength of 450550 MPa containing allotriomorphic ferrite, Widmansttten ferrite and acicular
ferrite
(b) a weld metal with a yield strength of 690 MPa, with a mixture of acicular ferrite, bainite and martensite in the microstructure
(c) a weld metal with a yield strength of around 900 MPa, with a microstructure consisting of a mixture of bainite and martensite.
of microstructure on mechanical
properties can be drawn. In Figure 1a, the three most typical microstructural constituents are
seen: allotriomorphic ferrite
along the prior austenite grain
boundaries, Widmansttten side
plates and acicular ferrite. The
weld metal is of the basic type
and therefore has a relatively low
content of non-metallic inclusions. The percentage of the various constituents varies with the
Product
Mechanical properties
Mn
Ni
Cr
Mo
Rp0.2
(MPa)
Rm
(MPa)
KV -40C
(J)
70
OK 75.75
OK Autrod 13.43/
OK Flux 10.62
OK Tubrod 14.03
OK Tubrod 15.27
MMA
0.06 1.6
2.1
0.35
0.4
755
820
SAW
MCW
FCW
0.1 1.3
0.07 1.6
0.06 1.6
2.2
2.3
2.5
0.6
-
0.5
0.6
-
700
740 min
750
PZ 6148
FCW
0.06 1.6
2.2
0.5
0.5
690 min
OK Autrod 13.29
1.2
0.3
0.2
750
OK Autrod 13.31
GMAW 0.1
1.7
1.9
0.35
0.5
850
OK 75.78
PZ 6149
MMA
FCW
0.04 2.1
0.09 1.7
3.1
2.3
0.5
1.0
0.6
0.5
920
890
795
75
740-900 47
800
80
(at -50C)
770-900 50
(at -50C)
820
40
(at -30C)
890
60
(at -20C)
965
80
950
Process
Consumable
Heat input
(kJ/mm)
Plate
thickness
(mm)
Mechanical
properties
Comments
MMA
OK 75.75
2.7
40
PWHT
600C/1.6 h
MMA
OK 75.78
1.5
15
3G position
FCAW
PZ 6148
1.2
30
3G position
FCAW
PZ 6149
1.5
30
1G position
MCW
OK Tubrod 14.03
1.2
16
SAW
13.43/10.62
2.6
30
VICKERS HARDNESS
Figure 2 Hardness development through the three weld metals in Figure 1. The difference in hardness reflects the difference in strength. The variation in hardness
along the line of measurement reflects the sensitivity of each weld metal to the heat
generated by subsequent passes.
impact toughness, with the exception of nickel, which tends to increase it. It is usually claimed that
increased strength results in a reduction in impact toughness, but
this depends on the mechanism
that is responsible for the increase in strength. Impact toughness also depends on the size of
non-metallic inclusions. This is determined by the basicity of the
slag system (or oxygen potential
of the gas) and the heat input.
Recently, the effect of minor elements on impact toughness has
attracted a great deal of interest.
There are also factors such as embrittling elements like nitrogen
and the actual welding process
also appears to have some influence. Processes with higher productivity may have a somewhat
lower impact toughness. However, many details relating to the influence of the above factors associated with toughness have not
been clarified.
which presents data for submerged arc, manual metal arc and
flux cored arc weld metals. The
yield strength of the weld metals
varied from about 650 MPa to
above 1,000 MPa. A clear trend
can be seen an increase in
yield strength produces a decrease in impact toughness. As
can also be seen, weld metals
from manual metal arc welding
have a slightly higher impact
toughness than submerged arc
weld metals.
Conclusions
Welding steels with a specified
minimum yield strength of 690
MPa is possible using most of the
common arc welding processes.
There are high productivity processes for welding these steels,
mainly cored wires and submerged arc welding. There is a range
of consumables that will provide
both the strength and impact
toughness to match the base material properties. To avoid hydrogen cracking in the weld metal, a
preheating temperature of
125150C should be used; the
lower temperature is applicable
for thin plates and a low level of
restraint. One particular problem
is the actual yield strength of the
delivered base materials, which is
often far higher than the specified
minimum yield strength. The weld
metals normally overmatch the
steel, but, as the yield strength of
the weld metal increases, a decrease in impact toughness is
seen. This then indicates that a
consumable with slight overmatching properties should be selected for each case.
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