Abstract

Bucket tooth is a component found in bucket wheel which serves to dredge tin sand in the sea. Often times,
bucket teeth are exposed in abrasive environment. Thus, welding is needed to overlay metal due to the abrasive
environment. In this research, the study on the effect of Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) temperature
variations was performed. The PWHT temperatures are in tempering regions of 450 oC, 550 oC, 650 oC and done
in 45 minutes. Specimens used are alloy steels with 0.3 wt% C. The welding process was done with Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and ER-308 was used for filler metal and argon as shielding gas. Single V-butt
joint was used for joint design with the current and voltage set at 120 Ampere and 20 Volt. As the results,
macrostructure characterization was perfomed by optical stereo and camera, microstructure performed by
optical microscope and hardness test by Microvickers tester. It was observed that the martensite structure was
formed on as-weld specimen. During tempering, the martensite gradually disappeared and tempered martesite
was formed. The hardness test results showed that the highest hardness was present in welding without PWHT
and the lowest was at PWHT 650 oC. There was a dark band phenomenon due to reheating performed at
temperature of 550 C and 650 C.
Keywords: GTAW, PWHT, microstructure, hardness distribution, dark band.