WEIGHT OF WELDMETAL (STEEL) IN VARIOUS JOINTS

USEFUL FORMULAE
NUMBER CLASSIFICATION OF FERROUS WELDMETAL ANALYSIS FOR PROCEDURE
QUALIFICATION
 ELECTRODE CLASSIFICATION

 The preffix "E" designates arc welding elsctrodes.

 The first two digits of 4 digit Nos. and first 3 digits of 5 digit Nos. indicate minium
Tensile strength.

E- 60xx indicates minimum tensile strength 60,000 p.s.i.

E- 70xx indicates minimum tensile strength 70,000 p.s.i.
E- 80xx indicates minimum tensile strength 80,000 p.s.i.
E- 90xx indicates minimum tensile strength 90,000 p.s.i.
E- 100xx indicates minimum tensile strength 1,00,000 p.s.i.
E- 110xx indicates minimum tensile strength 1,10,000 p.s.i.

 Second last digit indicates the welding position.

1. All positions
2. Flat position and horizontal fillets.
  The last two digits together indicate the welding position giving coating type, current
& polarity.

10 Suitable for all welding positions. Coating contains much cellulose. Fierce arc giving deep
. penetration. Thin, brittle slag. Can be used with DC(+) only.
11 Similar type but specially for use on Ac. Can also be used with DC(+) but at the expense
. of good weldability.
Suitable for all welding positions but in practice used mainly in flat and horixontal
12
position. Coating contains large amount of titanium oxide. Can be used with AC and
.
DC(-).
13 Similar type giving satisfactory operation at lower OCV. Suitable for all welding positions.
. Can be used with AC and DC(-).
14 Similar type with increased efficiency. Coating contains iron powder. Can be used with
. AC, DC(+) and DC(-)
15
Suitable for all welding positions. Basic coating. Can be used with DC(+) only.
.
16
Similar type but can be used with AC and DC(+).
.
18
Similar type but can be used with AC and DC(+)
.
Suitable for use in flat position and for standing fillets. Coating contains large amount of
20
iron oxide. Acid type, Brittle, porous slag deraches easily. Can be used with AC, DC(+)
.
and DC(-)
24 Suitable for use in flat position and for standing fillets. Rutile type with higher efficiency
. (more iron powder) than type Exx 14. Can be used with AC and DC(+).
27 Suitable for use in flat position and for standing fillets.Acid type
. contact electrode.can be used with AC and DC(-)
28 Suitable for use in flat position and for standing fillets.Efficiency
. higher than for type EXX 18. Can be used with AC and DC (+)
 The (EXXXX-'') indicates the approximate alloy in the weld deposits.

A1-0.5%Mo
B1 -0.5%Cr 0.5%Mo
B2 -1.25%Cr 0.5%Mo
B3 -2.25%Cr 1%Mo
B4 -2%Cr 0.5Mo
B5 -0.5%Cr 1%Mo
C1 -2.5%Ni
C2 -3.5%Ni
C3 -1%Ni 0.35Mo 0.15%Cr
D1, D2-0.25 - 0.45%Mo, 1.75%Mn
G -1%minMn, 0.5%minNi, 0.3%minCr, 0.2%minMo, 0.1%minV
ENGLISH/METRIC (SI) IMPACT STRENGTH CONVERSION CHART
 CALCULATING FILLERMETAL CONSUMPTION

The number of pounds of welding electrode or welding wire necessary to complete a given
joint may be calculated by the formulas:

WL
P=
E
where:
P = Pounds of electrode or wire required
W=Weight per foot of weld metal
L = Length of weld (feet)
E= Deposition efficiency

WEIGHT PER FOOT OF WELD METAL

Calculating the weight of weld metal requires that we consider the following items:

1. Area of the cross-section of the weld.

2. Length of the weld.
3. Volume of the weld in cubic inches.
4. Weight of the weld metal per cubic inch.

In the fillet weld shown below, the area of the cross-section (the triangle) is equal to the
half the base times the height, the volume of the weld is equal to the area times the length,
and the weight of the weld then, is the volume times the weight of the material (steel) per
cubic inch.
Specification for Covered, Corrosion-Resisting, Chromium and Chromium-Nickel
Steel Welding Electrodes
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION REQUIREMENT FOR ALL-WELD-METAL, a. b WEIGHT
PERCENT
Pressure Conversion
ENGLISH/METRIC TENSILE STRENGTH / YIELD STRENGTH CONVERSION CHART
Impact value conversion table
Temperature conversion table
Stress conversion table
 PRINT READING

3-1. GENERAL

a. Drawings. Drawing or sketching is a universal language used to convey all necessary

information to the individual who will fabricate or assemble an object. Prints are also used
to illustrate how various equipment is operated, maintained, repaired, or lubricated. The
original drawings for prints are made either by directly drawing or tracing a drawing on a
translucent tracing paper or cloth using waterproof (India) ink or a special pencil. The
original drawing is referred to as a tracing or master copy.

b. Reproduction Methods. Various methods of reproduction have been developed which will
produce prints of different colors from the master copy.

(1) One of the first processes devised to reproduce a tracing produced white
lines on a blue background, hence the term "blueprints".

(2) A patented paper identified as "BW" paper produces prints with black lines
on a white background.

(3) The ammonia process, or "Ozalids", produces prints with either black,
blue, or maroon lines on a white background.

(4) Vandyke paper produces a white line on a dark brown background.

(5) Other reproduction methods are the mimeograph machine, ditto machine,
and photostatic process.

3-2. PARTS OF A DRAWING

a. Title Block. The title block contains the drawing number and all the information required
to identify the part or assembly represented. Approved military prints will include the name
and address of the Government Agency or organization preparing the drawing, the scale,
the drafting record, authentication, and the date.

b. Revision Block. Each drawing has a revision block which is usually located in the upper
right corner. All changes to the drawing are noted in this block. Changes are dated and
identified by a number or letter. If a revision block is not used, a revised drawing may be
shown by the addition of a letter to the original number.

c. Drawing Number. All drawings are identified by a drawing number. If a print has more
than one sheet and each sheet has the same number, this information is included in the
number block, indicating the sheet number and the number of sheets in the series.

d. Reference Numbers and Dash Numbers. Reference numbers that appear in the title block
refer to other print numbers. When more than one detail is shown on a drawing, dashes and
numbers are frequently used. If two parts are to be shown in one detail drawing, both prints
will have the same drawing number plus a dash and an individual number such as 7873102-
1 and 7873102-2.
e. Scale. The scale of the print is indicated in one of the spaces within the title block. It
indicates the size of the drawing as compared with the actual size of the part. Never
measure a drawing--use dimensions. The print may have been reduced in size from the
original drawing.

f. Bill of Material. A special block or box on the drawing may contain a list of necessary
stock to make an assembly. It also indicates the type of stock, size, and specific amount
required.

3-3. CONSTRUCTION LINES

a. Full Lines (A, fig. 3-1). Full lines represent the visible edges or outlines of an object.

b. Hidden Lines (A, fig. 3-1). Hidden lines are made of short dashes which represent hidden
edges of an object.

c. Center Lines (B, fig. 3-1). Center lines are made with alternating short and long dashes.
A line through the center of an object is called a center line.

d. Cutting Plane Lines (B, fig. 3-1). Cutting plane lines are dashed lines, generally of the
same width as the full lines, extending through the area being cut. Short solid wing lines at
each end of the cutting line project at 90 degrees to that line and end in arrowheads which
point in the direction of viewing. Capital letters or numerals are placed just beyond the
points of the arrows to designate the section.

e. Dimension Lines (A, fig. 3-1). Dimension lines are fine full lines ending in arrowheads.
They are used to indicate the measured distance between two points.

f. Extension Lines (A, fig. 3-1). Extension lines are fine lines from the outside edges or
intermediate points of a drawn object. They indicate the limits of dimension lines.

g. Break Lines (C, fig. 3-1). Break lines are used to show a break in a drawing and are used
when it is desired to increase the scale of a drawing of uniform cross section while showing
the true size by dimension lines. There are two kinds of break lines: short break and long
break. Short break lines are usually heavy, wavy, semiparallel lines cutting off the object
outline across a uniform section. Long break lines are long dash parallel lines with each long
dash in the line connected to the next by a "2" or sharp wave line.

WELD AND WELDING SYMBOLS

3-4. GENERAL

Welding cannot take its proper place as an engineering tool unless means are provided for
conveying the information from the designer to the workmen. Welding symbols provide the
means of placing complete welding information on drawings. The scheme for symbolic
representation of welds on engineering drawings used in this manual is consistent with the
"third angle" method of projection. This is the method predominantly used in the United
States.

The joint is the basis of reference for welding symbols. The reference line of the welding
symbol (fig. 3-2) is used to designate the type of weld to be made, its location, dimensions,
extent, contour, and other supplementary information. Any welded joint indicated by a
symbol will always have an arrow side and an other side. Accordingly, the terms arrow side,
other side, and both sides are used herein to locate the weld with respect to the joint.
The tail of the symbol is used for designating the welding and cutting processes as well as
the welding specifications, procedures, or the supplementary information to be used in
making the weld. If a welder knows the size and type of weld, he has only part of the
information necessary for making the weld. The process, identification of filler metal that is
to be used, whether or not peening or root chipping is required, and other pertinent data
must be related to the welder. The notation to be placed in the tail of the symbol indicating
these data is to be establish by each user. If notations are not used, the tail of the symbol
may be omitted.

3-5. ELMENTS OF A WELDING SYMBOL

A distinction is made between the terms "weld symbol" and "welding symbol". The weld
symbol (fig. 3-3) indicates the desired type of weld. The welding symbol (fig. 3-2) is a
method of representing the weld symbol on drawings. The assembled "welding symbol"
consists of the following eight elements, or any of these elements as necessary: reference
line, arrow, basic weld symbols, dimensions and other data, supplementary symbols, finish
symbols, tail, and specification, process, or other reference. The locations of welding symbol
elements with respect to each other are shown in figure 3-2.
3-6. BASIC WELD SYMBOLS

a. General. Weld symbols are used to indicate the welding processes used in metal joining
operations, whether the weld is localized or "all around", whether it is a shop or field weld,
and the contour of welds. These basic weld symbols are summarized below and illustrated in
figure 3-3.

b. Arc and Gas Weld Symbols. See figure 3-3.

c. Resistance Weld Symbols. See figure 3-3.

d. Brazing, Forge, Thermit, Induction, and Flow Weld Symbols.

(1) These welds are indicated by using a process or specification reference in

the tail of the welding symbol as shown in figure 3-4.

(2) When the use of a definite process is required (fig. 3-5), the process may
be indicated by one or more of the letter designations shown in tables 3-1
and 3-2.
 NOTE
Letter designations have not been assigned to arc spot, resistance spot, arc seam,
resistance seam, and projection welding since the weld symbols used are adequate.

(3) When no specification, process, or other symbol, the tail may be omitted
(fig. 3-6). reference is used with a welding

e. Other Common Weld Symbols. Figures 3-7 and 3-8 illustrate the weld-all-around and
field weld symbol, and resistance spot and resistance seam welds.
f. Supplementary Symbols. These symbols are used in many welding processes in
congestion with welding symbols and are used as shown in figure 3-3.

3-7. LOCATION SIGNIFICANCE OF ARROW

a. Fillet, Groove, Flange, Flash, and Upset welding symbols. For these symbols, the arrow
connects the welding symbol reference line to one side of the joint and this side shall be
considered the arrow side of the joint (fig. 3-9). The side opposite the arrow side is
considered the other side of the joint (fig. 3-10).

b. Plug, Slot, Arc Spot, Arc Seam, Resistance Spot, Resistance Seam, and Projection
Welding Symbols. For these symbols, the arrow connects the welding symbol reference line
to the outer surface of one member of the joint at the center line of the desired weld. The
member to which the arrow points is considered the arrow side member. The other member
of the joint shall be considered the other side member (fig. 3-11).
c. Near Side. When a joint is depicted by a single line on the drawing and the arrow of a
welding symbol is directed to this line, the arrow side of the joint is considered as the near
side of the joint, in accordance with the usual conventions of drafting (fig. 3-12 and 3-13).

d. Near Member. When a joint is depicted as an area parallel to the plane of projection in a
drawing and the arrow of a welding symbol is directed to that area, the arrow side member
of the joint is considered as the near member of the joint, in accordance with the usual
conventions of drafting (fig. 3-11).

3-8. LOCATION OF THE WELD WITH RESPECT TO JOINT

a. Arrow Side. Welds on the arrow side of the joint are shown by placing the weld symbol on
the side of the reference line toward the reader (fig. 3-14).
b. Other Side. Welds on the other side of the joint are shown by placing the weld symbol on
the side of the reference line away from the reader (fig. 3-15).

c. Both Sides. Welds on both sides of the joint are shown by placing weld symbols on both
sides of the reference line, toward and away from the reader (fig. 3-16).

d. No Side Significance. Resistance spot, resistance seam, flash, weld symbols have no
arrow side or other side significance in themselves, although supplementary symbols used
in conjunction with these symbols may have such significance. For example, the flush
contour symbol (fig. 3-3) is used in conjunction with the spot and seam symbols (fig. 3-17)
to show that the exposed surface of one member of the joint is to be flush. Resistance spot,
resistance seam, flash, and upset weld symbols shall be centered on the reference line (fig.
3-17).

3-9. REFERENCES AND GENERAL NOTES

a. Symbols With References. When a specification, process, or other reference is used with
a welding symbol, the reference is placed in the tail (fig. 3-4).
b. Symbols Without References. Symbols may be used without specification, process, or
other references when:

(1) A note similar to the following appears on the drawing: "Unless otherwise
designated, all welds are to be made in accordance with specification no...."

(2) The welding procedure to be used is described elsewhere, such as in shop

instructions and process sheets.

c. General Notes. General notes similar to the following may be placed on a drawing to
provide detailed information pertaining to the predominant welds. This information need not
be repeated on the symbols:

(1) "Unless otherwise indicated, all fillet welds are 5/16 in. (0.80 cm) size."

(2) "Unless otherwise indicated, root openings for all groove welds are 3/16
in. (0.48 cm)."

d. Process Indication. When use of a definite process is required, the process may be
indicated by the letter designations listed in tables 3-1 and 3-2 (fig. 3-5).

e. Symbol Without a Tail. When no specification, process, or other reference is used with a
welding symbol, the tail may be omitted (fig. 3-6).

3-10. WELD-ALL-AROUND AND FIELD WELD SYMBOLS

a. Welds extending completely around a joint are indicated by mans of the weld-all-around
symbol (fig. 3-7). Welds that are completely around a joint which includes more than one
type of weld, indicated by a combination weld symbol, are also depicted by the weld-all-
around symbol. Welds completely around a joint in which the metal intersections at the
points of welding are in more than one plane are also indicated by the weld-all-around
symbol.

b. Field welds are welds not made in a shop or at the place of initial construction and are
indicated by means of the field weld symbol (fig. 3-7).

3-11. EXTENT OF WELDING DENOTED BY SYMBOLS

a. Abrupt Changes. Symbols apply between abrupt changes in the direction of the welding
or to the extent of hatching of dimension lines, except when the weld-all-around symbol
(fig. 3-3) is used.

b. Hidden Joints. Welding on hidden joints may be covered when the welding is the same as
that of the visible joint. The drawing indicates the presence of hidden members. If the
welding on the hidden joint is different from that of the visible joint, specific information for
the welding of both must be given.

3-12. LOCATION OF WELD SYMBOLS

a. Weld symbols, except resistance spot and resistance seam, must be shown only on the
welding symbol reference line and not on the lines of the drawing.
b. Resistance spot and resistance seam weld symbols may be placed directly at the
locations of the desired welds (fig. 3-8).

3-13. USE OF INCH, DEGREE, AND POUND MARKS

NOTE

Inch marks are used for indicating the diameter of arc spot, resistance spot, and circular
projection welds, and the width of arc seam and resistance seam welds when such welds
are specified by decimal dimensions.

In general, inch, degree, and pound marks may or may not be used on welding symbols, as
desired.

3-14. CONSTRUCTION OF SYMBOLS

a. Fillet, bevel and J-groove, flare bevel groove, and corner flange symbols shall be shown
with the perpendicular leg always to the left (fig. 3-18).

b. In a bevel or J-groove weld symbol, the arrow shall point with a definite break toward the
member which is to be chamfered (fig. 3-19). In cases where the member to be chamfered
is obvious, the break in the arrow may be omitted.

c. Information on welding symbols shall be placed to read from left to right along the
reference line in accordance with the usual conventions of drafting (fig. 3-20).
d. For joints having more than one weld, a symbol shall be shown for each weld (fig 3-21).

e. The letters CP in the tail of the arrow indicate a complete penetration weld regardless of
the type of weld or joint preparation (fig. 3-22).

f. When the basic weld symbols are inadequate to indicate the desired weld, the weld shall
be shown by a cross section, detail, or other data with a reference on the welding symbol
according to location specifications given in para 3-7 (fig. 3-23).

g. Two or more reference lines may be used to indicate a sequence of operations. The first
operation must be shown on the reference line nearest the arrow. Subsequent operations
must be shown sequentially on other reference lines (fig. 3-24). Additional reference lines
may also be used to show data supplementary to welding symbol information included on
the reference line nearest the arrow. Test information may be shown on a second or third
line away from the arrow (fig. 3-25). When required, the weld-all-around symbol must be
placed at the junction of the arrow line and reference line for each operation to which it
applies (fig. 3-26). The field weld symbol may also be used in this manner.
3-15. FILLET WELDS

Dimensions of fillet welds must be shown on the same side of the reference line as the weld
symbol (A, fig. 3-27).
b. When fillet welds are indicated on both sides of a joint and no general note governing the
dimensions of the welds appears on the drawing, the dimensions are indicated as follows:

(1) When both welds have the same dimensions, one or both may be
dimensioned (B or C, fig. 3-27).

(2) When the welds differ in dimensions, both must be dimensioned (D, fig.
3-27).

c. When fillet welds are indicated on both sides of a joint and a general note governing the
dimensions of the welds appears on the drawing, neither weld need be dimensioned.
However, if the dimensions of one or both welds differ from the dimensions given in the
general note, both welds must be dimensioned (C or D, fig. 3-27).

3-16. SIZE OF FILLET WELDS

a. The size of a fillet weld must of a fillet weld be shown to the left of the weld symbol (A,
fig. 3-27).

b. The size the fillet weld with unequal legs must be shown in parentheses to left of the
weld symbol. Weld orientation is not shown by the symbol and must be shown on the
drawing when necessary (E, fig. 3-27).

c. Unless otherwise indicated, the deposited fillet weld size must not be less than the size
shown on the drawing.

d. When penetration for a given root opening is specified, the inspection method for
determining penetration depth must be included in the applicable specification.

3-17. LENGTH OF FILLET WELDS

a. The length of a fillet weld, when indicated on the welding symbol, must be shown to the
right of the weld symbol (A through D, fig. 3-27).
b. When fillet welding extends for the full distance between abrupt changes in the direction
of the welding, no length dimension need be shown on the welding symbol.

c. Specific lengths of fillet welding may be indicated by symbols in conjunction with

dimension lines (fig. 3-28).

3-18. EXTENT OF FILLET WELDING

a. Use one type of hatching (with or without definite lines) to show the extent of fillet
welding graphically.

b. Fillet welding extending beyond abrupt changes in the direction of the welding must be
indicated by additional arrows pointing to each section of the joint to be welded (fig. 3-29)
except when the weld-all-around symbol is used.

3-19. DIMENSIONING OF INTERMITTENT FILLET WELDING

a. The pitch (center-to-center spacing) of intermittent fillet welding shall be shown as the
distance between centers of increments on one side of the joint.

b. The pitch of intermittent fillet welding shall be shown to the right of the length dimension
(A, fig 3-27).

c. Dimensions of chain intermittent fillet welding must be shown on both sides of the
reference line. Chain intermittent fillet welds shall be opposite each other (fig. 3-30).
d. Dimensions of staggered intermittent fillet welding must be shown on both sides of the
reference line as shown in figure 3-31.

Unless otherwise specified, staggered intermittent fillet welds on both sides shall be
symmetrically spaced as in figure 3-32.

3-20. TERMINATION OF INTERMITTENT FILLET WELDING

a. When intermittent fillet welding is used by itself, the symbol indicates that increments are
located at the ends of the dimensioned length.

b. When intermittent fillet welding is used between continuous fillet welding, the symbol
indicates that spaces equal to the pitch minus the length of one increment shall be left at
the ends of the dimensioned length.

c. Separate symbols must be used for intermittent and continuous fillet welding when the
two are combined along one side of the joint (fig. 3-28).

3-21. SURFACE CONTOUR OF FILLET WELDS

a. Fillet welds that are to be welded approximately flat, convex, or concave faced without
recourse to any method of finishing must be shown by adding the flush, convex, or concave
contour symbol to the weld symbol, in accordance with the location specifications given in
paragraph 3-7 (A, fig. 3-33).

b. Fillet welds that are to be made flat faced by mechanical means must be shown by
adding both the flush contour symbol and the user's standard finish symbol to the weld
symbol, in accordance with location specifications given in paragraph 3-7 (B, fig. 3-33).

c. Fillet welds that are to be mechanically finished to a convex contour shall be shown by
adding both the convex contour symbol and the user's standard finish symbol to the weld
symbol, in accordance with location specifications given in paragraph 3-7 (C, fig. 3-33).

d. Fillet welds that are to be mechanically finished to a concave contour must be shown by
adding both the concave contour symbol and the user's standard finish symbol to the weld
symbol in accordance with location specification given in paragraph 3-7.

e. In cases where the angle between fusion faces is such that the identification of the type
of weld and the proper weld symbol is in question, the detail of the desired joint and weld
configuration must be shown on the drawing.

NOTE

Finish symbols used here indicate the method of finishing (" c" = chiping, "G" = grinding,
"H" = hammering, "M" = machining), not the degree of finish.

3-22. PLUG AND SLOT WELDING SYMBOLS

a. General. Neither the plug weld symbol nor the slot weld symbol may be used to
designate fillet welds in holes.

b. Arrow Side and Other Side Indication of Plug and Slot Welds. Holes or slots in the arrow
side member of a joint for plug or slot welding must be indicated by placing the weld symbol
on the side of the reference line toward the reader (A, fig. 3-11). Holes or slots in the other
side member of a joint shall be indicated by placing the weld symbol on the side of the
reference line away from the reader (B, fig. 3-11).
c. Plug Weld Dimensions. Dimensions of plug welds must be shown on the same side of the
reference line as the weld symbol. The size of a weld must be shown to the left of the weld
symbol. Included angle of countersink of plug welds must be the user's standard unless
otherwise indicated. Included angle of countersink, when not the user's standard, must be
shown either above or below the weld symbol (A and C, fig. 3-34). The pitch (center-to-
center spacing) of plug welds shall be shown to the right of the weld symbol.

d. Depth of Filling of Plug and Slot Welds. Depth of filling of plug and slot welds shall be
completed unless otherwise indicated. When the depth of filling is less than complete, the
depth of filling shall be shown in inches inside the weld symbol (B, fig. 3-34).

e. Surface Contour of Plug Welds and Slot Welds. Plug welds that are to be welded
approximately flush without recourse to any method of finishing must be shown by adding
the finish contour symbol to the weld symbol (fig. 3-35). Plug welds that are to be welded
flush by mechanical means must be shown by adding both the flush contour symbol and the
user's standard finish symbol to the weld symbol (fig. 3-36).
f. Slot Weld Dimensions. Dimensions of slot welds must be shown on the same side of the
reference line as the weld symbol (fig. 3-37).

g. Details of Slot Welds. Length, width, spacing, included angle of countersink, orientation,
and location of slot welds cannot be shown on the welding symbols. This data must be
shown on the drawing or by a detail with a reference to it on the welding symbol, in
accordance with location specifications given in paragraph 3-7 (D, fig. 3-33).

3-23. ARC SPOT AND ARC SEAM WELDS

a. General. The spot weld symbol, in accordance with its location in relation to the reference
line, may or may not have arrow side or other side significance. Dimensions must be shown
on the same side of the reference line as the symbol or on either side when the symbol is
located astride the reference line and has no arrow side or other side significance. The
process reference is indicated in the tail of the welding symbol. Then projection welding is to
be used, the spot weld symbol shall be used with the projection welding process reference
in the tail of the welding symbol. The spot weld symbol must be centered above or below
the, reference line.

b. Size of Arc Spot and Arc Seam Welds.

(1) These welds may be dimensioned by either size or strength.

(2) The size of arc spot welds must be designated as the diameter of the
weld. Arc seam weld size shall be designated as the width of the weld.
Dimensions will be expressed in fractions or in decimals in hundredths of an
inch and shall be shown, with or without inch marks, to the left of the weld
symbol (A, fig. 3-38).

(3) The strength of arc spot welds must be designated as the minimum
accept-able shear strength in pounds or newtons per spot. In arc seam welds,
strength is designated in pounds per linear inch. Strength is shown to the left
of the weld symbol (B, fig. 3-38).

c. Spacing of Arc Spot and Arc Seam Welds.

 (1) The pitch (center-to-center spacing) of arc spot welds and, when
indicated, the length of arc seam welds, must be shown to the right of the
weld symbol (C, fig. 3-38).

(2) When spot welding or arc seam welding extends for the full distance
between abrupt changes in the direction of welding, no length dimension need
be shown on the welding symbol.

d. Extent and Number of Arc Spot Welds and Arc Seam Welds.

(1) When arc spot welding extends less than the distance between abrupt
changes in the direction of welding or less than the full length of the joint, the
extent must be dimensioned (fig. 3-39).

(2) When a definite number of arc spot welds is desired in a certain joint, the
number must be shown in parentheses either above or below the weld symbol
(fig. 3-40).

(3) A group of spot welds may be located on a drawing by intersecting center

lines. The arrows point to at least one of the centerlines passing through each
weld location.

e. Flush Arc Spot and Arc Seam Welded Joints. When the exposed surface of one member of
an arc spot or arc seam welded joint is to be flush, that surface must be indicated by adding
the flush contour symbol (fig. 3-41) in the same manner as that for fillet welds (para 3-21).
f. Details of Arc Seam Welds. Spacing, extent, orientation, and location of arc seam welds
cannot be shown on the welding symbols. This data must be shown on the drawing.

3-24. GROOVE WELDS

a. General.

(1) Dimensions of groove welds must be shown on the same side of the
reference line as the weld symbol (fig. 3-42).

(2) When no general note governing the dimensions of double groove welds
appears, dimensions shall be shown as follows:

(a) When both welds have the same dimensions, one or both may be
dimensioned (fig. 3-43).

(b) When the welds differ in dimensions, both shall be dimensioned (fig. 3-44).
 (3) When a general note governing the dimensions of groove welds appears,
the dimensions of double groove welds shall be indicated as follows:

(a) If the dimensions of both welds are as indicated in the note,

neither symbol need be dimensioned.

(b) When the dimensions of one or both welds differ from the
dimensions given in the general note, both welds shall be dimensioned
(fig. 3-44).

b. Size of Groove Welds.

(1) The size of groove welds shall be shown to the left of the weld symbol
(fig. 3-44).

(2) Specifications for groove welds with no specified root penetration are
shown as follows:

(a) The size of single groove and symmetrical double groove welds
which extend completely through the member or members being
joined need not be shown on the welding symbol (A and B, fig. 3-45).

(b) The size of groove welds which extend only partly through the
member members being joined must be shown on the welding symbol
(A and B, fig. 3-46).
 (3) The groove welds, size of groove welds with specified root penetration,
except square must be indicated by showing the depth of chamfering and the
root penetration separated by a plus mark and placed to the left of the weld
symbol. The depth of chamfering and the root penetration must read in that
order from left to right along the reference line (A and B, fig. 3-47). The size
of square groove welds must be indicated by showing only the root
penetration.

(4) The size of flare groove welds is considered to extend only to the tangent
points as indicated by dimension lines (fig. 3-48).

c. Groove Dimensions

(1) Root opening, groove angle, groove radii, and root faces of the U and J
groove welds are the user's standard unless otherwise indicated.

(2) When the user's standard is not used, the weld symbols are as follows:

(a) Root opening is shown inside the weld symbol (fig. 3-49).

(b) Groove angle of groove welds is shown outside the weld symbol
(fig. 3-42).
 (c) Groove radii and root faces of U and J groove welds are shown by a
cross section, detail, or other data, with a reference to it on the
welding symbol, in accordance with location specifications given in
paragraph 3-7 (fig. 3-22).

d. Back and Backing Welds. Bead-type back and backing welds of single-groove welds shall
be shown by means of the back or backing weld symbol (fig. 3-50).

e. Surface Contour of Groove Welds. The contour symbols for groove welds (F, fig. 3-51)
are indicated in the same manner as that for fillet welds (para 3-21).

(1) Groove welds that are to be welded approximately flush without recourse
to any method of finishing shall be shown by adding the flush contour symbol
to the weld symbol, in accordance with the location specifications given in
paragraph 3-7 (fig. 3-52).

(2) Groove welds that are to be made flush by mechanical means shall be
shown by adding the flush contour symbol and the user's standard finish
symbol to the weld symbol, in accordance with the location specifications
given in paragraph 3-7 (fig. 3-53).
 (3) Groove welds that are to be mechanically finished to a convex contour
shall be shown by adding both the convex contour symbol and the user's
standard finish symbol to the weld symbol, in accordance with the location
specifications given in para 3-7 (fig. 3-54).

3-25. BACK OR BACKING WELDS

a. General.

(1) The back or backing weld symbol (fig. 3-50) must be used to indicate
bead-type back or backing welds of single-groove welds.

(2) Back or backing welds of single-groove welds must be shown by placing a

back or backing weld symbol on the side of the reference line opposite the
groove weld symbol (fig. 3-50).

(3) Dimensions of back or backing welds should not be shown on the welding
symbol. If it is desired to specify these dimensions, they must be shown on
the drawing.

b. Surface Contour of Back or Backing Welds. The contour symbols (fig. 3-55) for back or
backing welds are indicated in the same manner as that for fillet welds (para 3-21).

3-26. MELT-THRU WELDS

a. General.
 (1) The melt-thru symbol shall be used where at least 100 percent joint
penetration of the weld through the material is required in welds made from
one side only (fig. 3-56).

(2) Melt-thru welds shall be shown by placing the melt-thru weld symbol on
the side of the reference line opposite the groove weld, flange, tee, or corner
weld symbol (fig. 3-56).

(3) Dimensions of melt-thru welds should rot be shown on the welding

symbol. If it is desired to specify these dimensions, they must be shown on
the drawing.

b. Surface Contour of Melt-thru Welds. The contour symbols for melt-thru welds are
indicated in the same manner as that for fillet welds (fig. 3-57).

3-27. SURFACING WELDS

a. General.

(1) The surfacing weld symbol shall be used to indicate surfaces built up by
welding (fig. 3-58), whether built up by single-or multiple-pass surfacing
welds.
 (2) The surfacing weld symbol does not indicate the welding of a joint and
thus has no arrow or other side significance. This symbol shall be drawn on
the side of the reference line toward the reader and the arrow shall point
clearly to the surface on which the weld is to be deposited.

b. Size of Built-up Surfaces. The size (height) of a surface built up by welding shall be
indicated by showing the minimum height of the weld deposit to the left of the weld symbol.
The dimensions shall always be on the same side of the reference line as the weld symbol
(fig. 3-58). When no specific height of weld deposit is desired, no size dimension need be
shown on the welding symbol.

c. Extent, Location, and Orientation of Surfaces Built up by Welding. When the entire area of
a plane or curved surface is to be built up by welding, no dimension, other than size, need
be shown on the welding symbol. If only a portion of the area of a plane or curved surface is
to be built up by welding, the extent, location, and orientation of the area to be built up
shall be indicated on the drawing.

3-28. FLANGE WELDS

a. General.

(1) The following welding symbols are used for light gage metal joints
involving the flaring or flanging of the edges to be joined (fig. 3-59). These
symbols have no arrow or other side significance.
 (2) Edge flange welds shall be shown by the edge flange weld symbol (A, fig.
3-59).

(3) Corner flange welds shall be shown by the corner flange weld symbol (B,
fig. 3-59). In cases where the corner flange joint is not detailed, a break in
the arrow is required to show which member is flanged (fig. 3-59).

b. Dimensions of Flange Welds.

(1) Dimensions of flange welds are shown on the same side of the reference
line as the weld symbol.

(2) The radius and the height above the point of tangency must be indicated
by showing the radius and height, separated by a plus mark, and placed to
the left of the weld symbol. The radius and height must read in that order
from left to right along the reference line (C, fig. 3-59).
 (3) The size (thickness) of flange welds must be shown by a dimension placed
outward of the flange dimensions (C, fig. 3-59).

(4) Root opening of flange welds are not shown on the welding symbol. If
specification of this dimension is desired, it must be shown on the drawing.

c. Multiple-Joint Flange Welds. For flange welds in which one or more pieces are inserted
between the two outer pieces, the same symbol shall be used as for the two outer pieces,
regardless of the number of pieces inserted.

3-29. RESISTANCE SPOT WELDS

a. General. Resistance spot weld symbols (fig. 3-3) have no arrow or other side significance
in themselves, although supplementary symbols used in con-junction with them may have
such significance. Resistance spot weld symbols shall be centered on the reference line.
Dimensions may be shown on either side of the reference line.

b. Size of Resistance Spot Welds. Resistance spot welds are dimensioned by either size or
strength as follows:

(1) The size of resistance spot welds is designated as the diameter of the
weld expressed in fractions or in decimals in hundredths of an inch and must
be shown, with or without inch marks, to the left of the weld symbol (fig. 3-
60).

(2) The strength of resistance spot welds is designated as the minimum

acceptable shear strength in pounds per spot and must be shown to the left
of the weld symbol (fig. 3-61).

c. Spacing of Resistance Spot Welds.

(1) The pitch of resistance spot welds shall be shown to the right of the weld
symbol (fig. 3-62).
 (2) When the symbols are shown directly on the drawing, the spacing is
shown by using dimension lines.

(3) When resistance spot welding extends less than the distance between
abrupt changes in the direction of the welding or less than the full length of
the joint, the extent must be dimensioned (fig. 3-63).

d. Number of Resistance Spot Welds. When a definite number of welds is desired in a

certain joint, the number must be shown in parentheses either above or below the weld
symbol (fig. 3-64).

e. Flush Resistance Spot Welding Joints. When the exposed surface of one member of a
resistance spot welded joint is to be flush, that surface shall be indicated by adding the flush
contour symbol (fig. 3-3) to the weld symbol, (fig. 3-65) in accordance with location
specifications given in paragraph 3-7.
3-30. RESISTANCE SEAM WELDS

a. General.

(1) Resistance seam weld symbols have no arrow or other side significance in
themselves, although supplementary symbols used in injunction with them
may have such significance. Resistance seam weld symbols must be centered
on the reference line.

(2) Dimensions of resistance seam welds may be shown on either side of the
reference line.

b. Size of Resistance Seam Welds. Resistance seam welds must be dimensioned by either
size or strength as follows:

(1) The size of resistance seam welds must be designated as the width of the
weld expressed in fractions or in decimals in hundredths of an inch and shall
be shown, with or without inch marks, to the left of the weld symbol (fig. 3-
66).

(2) The strength of resistance seam welds must be designated as the

minimum acceptable shear strength in pounds per linear inch and must be
shown to the left of the weld symbol (fig. 3-67).

c. Length of Resistance Seam Welds.

(1) The length of a resistance seam weld, when indicated on the welding
symbol, must be shown to the right of the welding symbol (fig. 3-68).
 (2) When resistance seam welding extends for the full distance between
abrupt changes in the direction of the welding, no length dimension need be
shown on the welding symbol.

(3) When resistance seam welding extends less than the distance between
abrupt changes in the direction of the welding or less than the full length of
the joint, the extent must be dimensioned (fig. 3-69).

d. Pitch of Resistance Seam Welds. The pitch of intermittent resistance seam welding shall
be designated as the distance between centers of the weld increments and must be shown
to the right of the length dimension (fig. 3-70).

e. Termination of Intermittent Resistance Seam Welding. When intermittent resistance seam

welding is used by itself, the symbol indicates that increments are located at the ends of the
dimensioned length. When used between continuous resistance seam welding, the symbol
indicates that spaces equal to the pitch minus the length of one increment are left at the
ends of the dimensional length. Separate symbols must be used for intermittent and
continuous resistance seam welding when the two are combined.

f. Flush Projection Welded Joints. When the exposed surface of one member of a projection
welded joint is to be made flush, that surface shall be indicated by adding the flush contour
symbol (fig. 3-3) to the weld symbol, observing the usual location significance (fig. 3-79).
3-31. PROJECTION WELDS

a. General.

(1) When using projection welding, the spot weld symbol must be used with
the projection welding process reference in the tail of the welding symbol. The
spot weld symbol must be centered on the reference line.

(2) Embossments on the arrow side member of a joint for projection welding
shall be indicated by placing the weld symbol on the side of the reference line
toward the reader (fig. 3-72).

(3) Embossment on the other side member of a joint for projection welding
shall be indicated by placing the weld symbol on the -side of the reference
line away from the reader (fig. 3-73).

(4) Proportions of projections must be shown by a detail or other suitable

means.
 (5) Dimensions of projection welds must be shown on the same side of the
reference line as the weld symbol.

b. Size of Projection Welds.

(1) Projection welds must be dimensioned by strength. Circular projection

welds may be dimensioned by size.

(2) The size of circular projection welds shall be designated as the diameter of
the weld expressed in fractions or in decimals in hundredths of an inch and
shall be shown, with or without inch marks, to the left of the weld symbol
(fig. 3-74).

(3) The strength of projection welds shall be designated as the minimum

acceptable shear strength in pounds per weld and shall be shown to the left of
the weld symbol (fig. 3-75).

c. Spacing of Projection Welds. The pitch of projection welds shall be shown to the right of
the weld symbol (fig. 3-76).

d. Number of Projection Welds. When a definite number of projection welds is desired in a

certain joint, the number shall be shown in parentheses (F, fig. 3-77).
e. Extent of Projection Welding. When the projection welding extends less than the distance
between abrupt changes in the direction of the welding or less than the full length of the
joint, the extent shall be dimensioned (fig. 3-78).

f. Flush Resistance Seam Welded Joints. When the exposed surface of one member of a
resistance seam welded joint is to be flush, that surface shall be indicated by adding the
flush contour symbol (fig. 3-3) to the weld symbol, observing the usual location significance
(fig. 3-71).

3-32. FLASH OR UPSET WELDS

a. General. Flash or upset weld symbols have no arrow side or other side significance in
themselves, although supplementary symbols used in conjunction with then may have such
significance. The weld symbols for flash or upset welding must be centered on the reference
line. Dimensions need not be shown on the welding symbol.

b. Surface Contour of Flash or Upset Welds. The contour symbols (fig. 3-3) for flash or
upset welds (fig. 3-80) are indicated in the same manner as that for fillet welds (paragraph
3-21).
 JOINT DESIGN AND PREPARATION OF METALS

4-1. JOINT TYPES

Welds are made at the junction of the various pieces that make up the weldment. The
junctions of parts, or joints, are defined as the location where two or more nembers are to
be joined. Parts being joined to produce the weldment may be in the form of rolled plate,
sheet, shapes, pipes, castings, forgings, or billets. The five basic types of welding joints are
listed below.

a. B, Butt Joint. A joint between two members lying approximately in the same plane.
b. C, Corner Joint. A joint between two members located approximately at right angles to
each other in the form of an angle.

c. E, Edge Joint. A joint between the edges of two or more parallel or mainly parallel
members.

d. L, Lap Joint. A joint between two overlapping members.

e. T, Tee Joint. A joint between two members located approximately at right angles to each
other in the form of a T.

4-2. WELD JOINTS

In order to produce weldments , it is necessary to combine the joint types with weld types
to produce weld joints for joining the separate members. Each weld type cannot always be
combined with each joint type to make a weld joint. Table 4-1 shows the welds applicable to
the basic joints.
4-3. WELD JOINT DESIGN AND PREPARATION

a. Purpose. Weld joints are designed to transfer the stresses between the members of the
joint and throughout the weldment. Forces and loads are introduced at different points and
are transmitted to different areas throughout the weldment. The type of loading and service
of the weldment have a great bearing on the joint design required.

b. Categories. All weld joints can be classified into two basic categories: full penetration
joints and partial penetration joints.

(1) A full penetration joint has weld metal throughout the entire cross section of the
weld joint.

(2) A partial penetration joint has an unfused area and the weld does not completely
penetrate the joint. The rating of the joint is based on the percentage of weld metal
depth to the total joint; i. e., a 50 percent partial penetration joint would have weld
metal halfway through the joint.

NOTE

When joints are subjected to dynamic loading, reversing loads, and impact leads, the weld
joint must be very efficient. This is more important if the weldment is sub jetted to cold-
temperature service. Such services require full-penetration welds. Designs that increase
stresses by the use of partial-penetration joints are not acceptable for this type of service.

c. Strength. The strength of weld joints depends not only on the size of the weld, but also
on the strength of the weld metal.

(1) Mild and low alloy steels are generally stronger than the materials being joined.

(2) When welding high-alloy or heat-treated materials, special precautions must be

taken to ensure the welding heat does not cancel the heat treatment of the base
metal, causing it to revert to its lower strength adjacent to the weld.

d. Design. The weld joint must be designed so that its cross-sectional area is the minimum
possible. The cross-sectional area is a measurement of the amount or weight of weld metal
that must be used to make the joint. Joints may be prepared by shearing, thermal cutting,
or machining.

(1) Carbon and low alloy joint design and preparation. These weld joints are
prepared either by flame cutting or mechanically by machining or grinding,
depending on the joint details. Before welding, the joint surfaces must be cleared of
all foreign materials such as paint, dirt, scale, or must. Suitable solvents or light
grinding can be used for cleaning. The joint surface should not be nicked or gouged
since nicks and gouges may interfere with the welding operation.

CAUTION

Aluminum and aluminum alloys should not be cleaned with caustic soda or strong cleaner
with a pH above 10. The aluminum or aluminum alloy will react chemically with these types
of cleaners. Other nonferrous metals and alloys should be investigated prior to using these
cleaners to determine their reactivity.

(2) Aluminum and aluminum alloy joint design and preparation. Weld joint designs often
unintentionally require welds that cannot be made. Check your design to avoid these and
similar errors. Before welding, the joint surfaces must be cleared of all foreign materials
such as paint, dirt, scale, or oxide; solvent cleaning, light grinding, or etching can be used.
The joint surfaces should not be nicked or gouged since nicks and gouges may interfere with
welding operations.

(3) Stainless steel alloy joint design and preparation. These weld joints are prepared either
by plasma arc cutting or by machining or grinding, depending on the alloy. Before welding,
the joint surfaces must be cleaned of all foreign material, such as paint, dirt, scale, or
oxides. Cleaning may be done with suitable solvents (e. g., acetone or alcohol) or light
grinding. Care should be taken to avoid nicking or gouging the joint surface since such flaws
can interfere with the welding operation.

4-4. WELD ACCESSIBILITY

The weld joint must be accessible to the welder using the process that is employed. Weld
joints are often designed for welds that cannot be made. Figure 4-2 illustrates several types
of inaccessible welds.

CHARACTERISTICS

7-1. GENERAL

Most of the metals and alloys used in Army materiel can be welded by one or more of the
processes described in this manual. This section describes the characteristics of metals and
their alloys, with particular reference to their significance in welding operations.
7-2. PROPERTIES OF METALS

a. Definitions. All metals fall within two categories, ferrous or nonferrous.

(1) Ferrous metals are metals that contain iron. Ferrous metals appear in the
form of cast iron, carbon steel, and tool steel. The various alloys of iron, after
undergoing certain processes, are pig iron, gray cast iron, white iron, white
cast iron, malleable cast iron, wrought iron, alloy steel, and carbon steel. All
these types of iron are mixtures of iron and carbon, manganese, sulfur,
silicon, and phosphorous. Other elements are also present, but in amounts
that do not appreciably affect the characteristics of the metal.

(2) Nonferrous metals are those which do not contain iron. Aluminum, copper,
magnesium, and titanium alloys are among those metals which belong to this
group.

b. Physical Properties. Many of the physical properties of metals determine if and how they
can be welded and how they will perform in service. Physical properties of various metals
are shown in table 7-1.
(1) Color. Color relates to the quality of light reflected from the metal.
(2) Mass or density. Mass or density relates to mass with respect to volume.
Commonly known as specific gravity, this property is the ratio of the mass of
a given volume of the metal to the mass of the same volume of water at a
specified temperature, usually 39°F (4°C). For example, the ratio of weight of
one cubic foot of water to one cubic foot of cast iron is the specific gravity of
cast iron. This property is measured by grams per cubic millimeter or
centimeter in the metric system.

(3) Melting point. The melting point of a metal is important with regard to
welding. A metal’s fusibility is related to its melting point, the temperature at
which the metal changes from a solid to a molten state. Pure substances have
a sharp melting point and pass from a solid state to a liquid without a change
in temperature. During this process, however, there is an absorption of heat
during melting and a liberation of heat during freezing. The absorption or
release of thermal energy when a substance changes state is called its latent
heat. Mercury is the only common metal that is in its molten state at normal
room temperature. Metals having low melting temperatures can be welded
with lower temperature heat sources. The soldering and brazing processes
utilize low-temperature metals to join metals having higher melting
temperatures.

(4) Boiling point. Boiling point is also an important factor in welding. The
boiling point is the temperature at which the metal changes from the liquid
state to the vapor state. Some metals, when exposed to the heat of an arc,
will vaporize.

(5) Conductivity. Thermal and electrical conductivity relate to the metal’s

ability to conduct or transfer heat and electricity. Thermal conductivity, the
ability of a metal to transmit heat throughout its mass, is of vital importance
in welding, since one metal may transmit heat from the welding area much
more quickly than another. The thermal conductivity of a metal indicates the
need for preheating and the size of heat source required. Thermal
conductivity is usually related to copper. Copper has the highest thermal
conductivity of the common metals, exceeded only by silver. Aluminum has
approximately half the thermal conductivity of copper, and steels have abut
one-tenth the conductivity of copper. Thermal conductivity is measured in
calories per square centimeter per second per degree Celsius. Electrical
conductivity is the capacity of metal to conduct an electric current. A measure
of electrical conductivity is provided by the ability of a metal to conduct the
passage of electrical current. Its opposite is resistivity, which is measured in
micro-ohms per cubic centimeter at a standardize temperature, usually 20°C.
Electrical conductivity is usually considered as a percentage and is related to
copper or silver. Temperature bears an important part in this property. As
temperature of a metal increases, its conductivity decreases. This property is
particularly important to resistance welding and to electrical circuits.

(6) Coefficient of linear thermal expansion. With few exceptions, solids

expand when they are heated and contract when they are cooled. The
coefficient of linear thermal expansion is a measure of the linear increase per
unit length based on the change in temperature of the metal. Expansion is the
increase in the dimension of a metal caused by heat. The expansion of a
metal in a longitudinal direction is known as the linear expansion. The
 coefficient of linear expansion is expressed as the linear expansion per unit
length for one degree of temperature increase. When metals increase in size,
they increase not only in length but also in breadth and thickness. This is
called volumetric expansion. The coefficient of linear and volumetric
expansion varies over a wide range for different metals. Aluminum has the
greatest coefficient of expansion, expanding almost twice as much as steel for
the same temperature change. This is important for welding with respect to
warpage, wapage control and fixturing, and for welding together dissimilar
metals.

(7) Corrosion resistance. Corrosion resistance is the resistance to eating or

wearing away by air, moisture, or other agents.

c. Mechanical Properties. The mechanical properties of metals determine the range of

usefulness of the metal and establish the service that can be expected. Mechanical
properties are also used to help specify and identify the metals. They are important in
welding because the weld must provide the same mechanical properties as the base metals
being joined. The adequacy of a weld depends on whether or not it provides properties
equal to or exceeding those of the metals being joined. The most common mechanical
properties considered are strength, hardness, ductility, and impact resistance. Mechanical
properties of various metals are shown in table 7-2.
(1) Tensile strength. Tensile strength is defined as the maximum load in
tension a material will withstand before fracturing, or the ability of a material
to resist being pulled apart by opposing forces. Also known as ultimate
strength, it is the maximum strength developed in a metal in a tension test.
(The tension test is a method for determining the behavior of a metal under
an actual stretch loading. This test provides the elastic limit, elongation, yield
point, yield strength, tensile strength, and the reduction in area.) The tensile
strength is the value most commonly given for the strength of a material and
is given in pounds per square inch (psi) (kiloPascals (kPa)). The tensile
strength is the number of pounds of force required to pull apart a bar of
material 1.0 in. (25.4 mm) wide and 1.00 in. (25.4 mm) thick (fig. 7-1).

(2) Shear strength. Shear strength is the ability of a material to resist being
fractured by opposing forces acting of a straight line but not in the same
plane, or the ability of a metal to resist being fractured by opposing forces not
acting in a straight line (fig. 7-2).

(3) Fatigue strength. Fatigue strength is the maximum load a material can
withstand without failure during a large number of reversals of load. For
example, a rotating shaft which supports a weight has tensile forces on the
top portion of the shaft and compressive forces on the bottom. As the shaft is
rotated, there is a repeated cyclic change in tensile and compressive strength.
Fatigue strength values are used in the design of aircraft wings and other
structures subject to rapidly fluctuating loads. Fatigue strength is influenced
by microstructure, surface condition, corrosive environment, and cold work.

(4) Compressive strength. Compressive strength is the maximum load in

compression a material will withstand before a predetermined amount of
deformation, or the ability of a material to withstand pressures acting in a
given plane (fig. 7-3). The compressive strength of both cast iron and
concrete are greater than their tensile strength. For most materials, the
reverse is true.

(5) Elasticity. Elasticity is the ability of metal to return to its original size,
shape, and dimensions after being deformed, stretched, or pulled out of
shape. The elastic limit is the point at which permanent damage starts. The
yield point is the point at which definite damage occurs with little or no
increase in load. The yield strength is the number of pounds per square inch
(kiloPascals) it takes to produce damage or deformation to the yield point.

(6) Modulus of elasticity. The modulus of elasticity is the ratio of the internal
stress to the strain produced.

(7) Ductility. The ductility of a metal is that property which allows it to be

stretched or otherwise changed in shape without breaking, and to retain the
changed shape after the load has been removed. It is the ability of a material,
such as copper, to be drawn or stretched permanently without fracture. The
ductility of a metal can be determined by the tensile test by determining the
percentage of elongation. The lack of ductility is brittleness or the lack of
showing any permanent damage before the metal cracks or breaks (such as
with cast iron).

(8) Plasticity. Plasticity is the ability of a metal to be deformed extensively

without rupture. Plasticity is similar to ductility.

(9) Malleability. Malleability is another form of plasticity, and is the ability of a

material to deform permanently under compression without rupture. It is this
property which allows the hammering and rolling of metals into thin sheets.
Gold, silver, tin, and lead are examples of metals exhibiting high malleability.
Gold has exceptional malleability and can be rolled into sheets thin enough to
transmit light.
(10) Reduction of area. This is a measure of ductility and is obtained from the
tensile test by measuring the original cross-sectional area of a specimen to a
cross-sectional area after failure.

(11) Brittleness. Brittleness is the property opposite of plasticity or ductility. A

brittle metal is one than cannot be visibly deformed permanently, or one that
lacks plasticity.

(12) Toughness. Toughness is a combination of high strength and medium

ductility. It is the ability of a material or metal to resist fracture, plus the
ability to resist failure after the damage has begun. A tough metal, such as
cold chisel, is one that can withstand considerable stress, slowly or suddenly
applied, and which will deform before failure. Toughness is the ability of a
material to resist the start of permanent distortion plus the ability to resist
shock or absorb energy.

(13) Machinability and weldability. The property of machinability and

weldability is the ease or difficulty with which a material can be machined or
welded.

(14) Abrasion resistance. Abrasion resistance is the resistance to wearing by

friction.

(15) Impact resistance. Resistance of a metal to impacts is evaluated in terms

of impact strength. A metal may possess satisfactory ductility under static
loads, but may fail under dynamic loads or impact. The impact strength of a
metal is determined by measuring the energy absorbed in the fracture.

(16) Hardness. Hardness is the ability of a metal to resist penetration and

wear by another metal or material. It takes a combination of hardness and
toughness to withstand heavy pounding. The hardness of a metal limits the
ease with which it can be machined, since toughness decreases as hardness
increases. Table 7-3 illustrates hardness of various metals.
(a) Brinell hardness test. In this test, a hardened steel ball is pressed
slowly by a known force against the surface of the metal to be tested.
The diameter of the dent in the surface is then measured, and the
Brinell hardness number (bhn) is determined by from standard tables
(table 7-3).

(b) Rockwell hardness test. This test is based upon the difference
between the depth to which a test point is driven into a metal by a
light load and the depth to which it is driven in by a heavy load. The
light load is first applied and then, without moving the piece, the
heavy load is applied. The hardness number is automatically indicated
on a dial. The letter designations on the Rockwell scale, such as B and
C, indicate the type of penetrator used and the amount of heavy load
(table 7-3). The same light load is always used.

(c) Scleroscope hardness test. This test measures hardness by letting

a diamond-tipped hammer fall by its own weight from a fixed height
and rebound from the surface; the rebound is measured on a scale. It
is used on smooth surfaces where dents are not desired.
a. General. It is necessary to know the composition of the metal being welded in order to
produce a successful weld. Welders and metal workers must be able to identify various
metal products so that proper work methods may be applied. For Army equipment,
drawings (MWOs) should be available. They must be examined in order to determine the
metal to be used and its heat treatment, if required. After some practice, the welder will
learn that certain parts of machines or equipment are always cast iron, other parts are
usually forgings, and so on.

b. Tests. There are seven tests that can be performed in the shop to identify metals. Six of
the different tests are summarized in table 7-4. These should be supplemented by tables 7-
1 and 7-2 which present physical and mechanical properties of metal, and table 7-3, which
presents hardness data. These tests are as follows:
(1) Appearance test. The appearance test includes such things as color and
appearance of machined as well as unmachined surfaces. Form and shape
give definite clues as to the identity of the metal. The shape can be
descriptive; for example, shape includes such things as cast engine blocks,
automobile bumpers, reinforcing rods, I beams or angle irons, pipes, and pipe
fittings. Form should be considered and may show how the part was rode,
such as a casting with its obvious surface appearance and parting mold lines,
or hot rolled wrought material, extruded or cold rolled with a smooth surface.
For example, pipe can be cast, in which case it would be cast iron, or
wrought, which would normally be steel. Color provides a very strong clue in
metal identification. It can distinguish many metals such as copper, brass,
aluminum, magnesium, and the precious metals. If metals are oxidized, the
oxidation can be scraped off to determine the color of the unoxidized metal.
This helps to identify lead, magnesium, and even copper. The oxidation on
steel, or rust, is usually a clue that can be used to separate plain carbon
steels from the corrosion-resisting steels.

(2) Fracture test. Some metal can be quickly identified by looking at the
surface of the broken part or by studying the chips produced with a hammer
and chisel. The surface will show the color of the base metal without
oxidation. This will be true of copper, lead, and magnesium. In other cases,
the coarseness or roughness of the broken surface is an indication of its
structure. The ease of breaking the part is also an indication of its ductility of
lack of ductility. If the piece bends easily without breaking, it is one of the
more ductile metals. If it breaks easily with little or no bending, it is one of
the brittle metals.

(3) Spark test. The spark test is a method of classifying steels and iron
according to their composition by observing the sparks formed when the
metal is held against a high speed grinding wheel. This test does not replace
chemical analysis, but is a very convenient and fast method of sorting mixed
steels whose spark characteristics are known. When held lightly against a
grinding wheel, the different kinds of iron and steel produce sparks that vary
in length, shape, and color. The grinding wheel should be run to give a
surface speed of at least 5000 ft (1525 m) per minute to get a good spark
stream. Grinding wheels should be hard enough to wear for a reasonable
length of time, yet soft enough to keep a free-cutting edge. Spark testing
should be done in subdued light, since the color of the spark is important. In
all cases, it is best to use standard samples of metal for the purpose of
comparing their sparks with that of the test sample.

(a) Spark testing is not of much use on nonferrous metals such as

coppers, aluminums, and nickel-base alloys, since they do not exhibit
spark streams of any significance. However, this is one way to
separate ferrous and nonferrous metals.

(b) The spark resulting from the test should be directed downward and
studied. The color, shape, length, and activity of the sparks relate to
characteristics of the material being tested. The spark stream has
specific items which can be identified. The straight lines are called
carrier lines. They are usually solid and continuous. At the end of the
carrier line, they may divide into three short lines, or forks. If the
 spark stream divides into more lines at the end, it is called a sprig.
Sprigs also occur at different places along the carrier line. These are
called either star or fan bursts. In some cases, the carrier line will
enlarge slightly for a very short length, continue, and perhaps enlarge
again for a short length. When these heavier portions occur at the end
of the carrier line, they are called spear points or buds. High sulfur
creates these thicker spots in carrier lines and the spearheads. Cast
irons have extremely short streams, whereas low-carbon steels and
most alloy steels have relatively long streams. Steels usually have
white to yellow color sparks, while cast irons are reddish to straw
yellow. A 0.15 percent carbon steel shows sparks in long streaks with
some tendency to burst with a sparkler effect; a carbon tool steel
exhibits pronounced bursting; and a steel with 1.00 percent carbon
shows brilliant and minute explosions or sparklers. As the carbon
content increases, the intensity of bursting increases.

(c) One big advantage of this test is that it can be applied to metal in,
all stages, bar stock in racks, machined forgings or finished parts. The
spark test is best conducted by holding the steel stationary and
touching a high speed portable grinder to the specimen with sufficient
pressure to throw a horizontal spark stream about 12.00 in. (30.48
cm) long and at right angles to the line of vision. Wheel pressure
against the work is important because increasing pressure will raise
the temperature of the spark stream and give the appearance of
higher carbon content. The sparks near and around the wheel, the
middle of the spark stream, and the reaction of incandescent particles
at the end of the spark stream should be observed. Sparks produced
by various metals are shown in figure 7-4.

CAUTION

The torch test should be used with discretion, as it may damage the part being tested.
Additionally, magnesium may ignite when heated in the open atmosphere.
(4) Torch test. With the oxyacetylene torch, the welder can identify various
metals by studying how fast the metal melts and how the puddle of molten
metal and slag looks, as well as color changes during heating. When a sharp
corner of a white metal part is heated, the rate of melting can be an
indication of its identity. If the material is aluminum, it will not melt until
sufficient heat has been used because its high conductivity. If the part is zinc,
the sharp corner will melt quickly, since zinc is not a good conductor. In the
case of copper, if the sharp comer melts, it is normally deoxidized copper. If it
does not melt until much heat has been applied, it is electrolytic copper.
Copper alloys, if composed of lead, will boil. To distinguish aluminum from
magnesium, apply the torch to filings. Magnesium will burn with a sparkling
white flame. Steel will show characteristic colors before melting.

(5) Magnetic test. The magnetic test can be quickly performed using a small
pocket magnet. With experience, it is possible to judge a strongly magnetic
material from a slightly magnetic material. The nonmagnetic materials are
easily recognized. Strongly magnetic materials include the carbon and low-
alloy steels, iron alloys, pure nickel, and martensitic stainless steels. A slightly
magnetic reaction is obtained from Monel and high-nickel alloys and the
stainless steel of the 18 chrome 8 nickel type when cold worked, such as in a
seamless tube. Nonmagnetic materials include copper-base alloys, aluminum-
base alloys, zinc-base alloys, annealed 18 chrome 8 nickel stainless, the
magnesium, and the precious metals.

(6) Chisel test. The chip test or chisel test may also be used to identify
metals. The only tools required are a banner and a cold chisel. Use the cold
chisel to hammer on the edge or corner of the material being examined. The
ease of producing a chip is an indication of the hardness of the metal. If the
chip is continuous, it is indicative of a ductile metal, whereas if chips break
apart, it indicates a brittle material. On such materials as aluminum, mild
steel and malleable iron, the chips are continuous. They are easily chipped
and the chips do not tend to break apart. The chips for gray cast iron are so
brittle that they become small, broken fragments. On high-carbon steel, the
chips are hard to obtain because of the hardness of the material, but can be
continuous.

(7) Hardness test. Refer to table 7-3 for hardness values of the various
metals, and to the above information on the three hardness tests that are
commonly used. A less precise hardness test is the file test. A summary of
the reaction to filing, the approximate Brinell hardness, and the possible type
of steel is shown in table 7-6. A sharp mill file must be used. It is assumed
that the part is steel and the file test will help identify the type of steel.
 (8) Chemical test. There are numerous chemical tests than can be made in
the shop to identify some material. Monel can be distinguished form Inconel
by one drop of nitric acid applied to the surface. It will turn blue-green on
Monel, but will show no reaction on Inconel. A few drops of a 45 percent
phosphoric acid will bubble on low-chromium stainless steels. Magnesium can
be distinguished from aluminum using silver nitrate, which will leave a black
deposit on magnesium, but not on aluminum. These tests can become
complicated, and for this reason are not detailed further here.

c. Color Code for Marking Steel Bars. The Bureau of Standards of the United States
Department of Commerce has a color code for making steel bars. The color markings
provided in the code may be applied by painting the ends of bars. Solid colors usually mean
carbon steel, while twin colors designate alloy and free-cutting steel.

d. Ferrous Metal. The basic substance used to make both steel and cast iron (gray and
malleable) is iron. It is used in the form of pig iron. Iron is produced from iron ore that
occurs chiefly in nature as an oxide, the two most important oxides being hematite and
magnetite. Iron ore is reduced to pig iron in a blast furnace, and the impurities are removed
in the form of slag (fig. 7-5). Raw materials charged into the furnace include iron ore, coke,
and limestone. The pig iron produced is used to manufacture steel or cast iron.
Plain carbon steel consists of iron and carbon. Carbon is the hardening element. Tougher
alloy steel contains other elements such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. Cast iron is
nothing more than basic carbon steel with more carbon added, along with silicon. The
carbon content range for steel is 0.03 to 1.7 percent, and 4.5 percent for cast iron.

Steel is produced in a variety of melting furnaces, such as open-hearth, Bessemer

converter, crucible, electric-arc, and induction. Most carbon steel is made in open-hearth
furnaces, while alloy steel is melted in electric-arc and induction furnaces. Raw materials
charged into the furnace include mixtures of iron ore, pig iron, limestone, and scrap. After
melting has been completed, the steel is tapped from the furnace into a ladle and then
poured into ingots or patterned molds. The ingots are used to make large rectangular bars,
which are reduced further by rolling operations. The molds are used for castings of any
design.

Cast iron is produced by melting a charge of pig iron, limestone, and coke in a cupola
furnace. It is then poured into sand or alloy steel molds. When making gray cast iron
castings, the molten metal in the mold is allowed to become solid and cool to room
temperature in open air. Malleable cast iron, on the other hand, is made from white cast
iron, which is similar in content to gray cast iron except that malleable iron contains less
carbon and silicon. White cast iron is annealed for more than 150 hours at temperatures
ranging from 1500 to 1700°F (815 to 927°C). The result is a product called malleable cast
iron. The desirable properties of cast iron are less than those of carbon steel because of the
difference in chemical makeup and structure. The carbon present in hardened steel is in
solid solution, while cast iron contains free carbon known as graphite. In gray cast iron, the
graphite is in flake form, while in malleable cast iron the graphite is in nodular (rounded)
form. This also accounts for the higher mechanical properties of malleable cast iron as
compared with gray cast iron.

Iron ore is smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace to remove the oxygen (the
process of reduction) and earth foreign matter from it. Limestone is used to combined with
the earth matter to form a liquid slag. Coke is used to supply the carbon needed for the
reduction and carburization of the ore. The iron ore, limestone, and coke are charged into
the top of the furnace. Rapid combustion with a blast of preheated air into the smelter
causes a chemical reaction, during which the oxygen is removed from the iron. The iron
melts, and the molten slag consisting of limestone flux and ash from the coke, together with
compounds formed by reaction of the flux with substances present in the ore, floats on the
heavier iron liquid. Each material is then drawn off separately (fig. 7-6).
All forms of cast iron, steel, and wrought iron consist of a mixture of iron, carbon, and other
elements in small amounts. Whether the metal is cast iron or steel depends entirely upon
the amount of carbon in it. Table 7-7 shows this principle.
Cast iron differs from steel mainly because its excess of carbon (more than 1.7 percent) is
distributed throughout as flakes of graphite, causing most of the remaining carbon to
separate. These particles of graphite form the paths through which failures occur, and are
the reason why cast iron is brittle. By carefully controlling the silicon content and the rate of
cooling, it is possible to cause any definite amount of the carbon to separate as graphite or
to remain combined. Thus, white, gray, and malleable cast iron are all produced from a
similar base.

(1) Wrought iron.

(a) General. Wrought iron is almost pure iron. It is made from pig iron
in a puddling furnace and has a carbon content of less than 0.08
percent. Carbon and other elements present in pig iron are taken out,
leaving almost pure iron. In the process of manufacture, some slag is
mixed with iron to form a fibrous structure in which long stringers of
slag, running lengthwise, are mixed with long threads of iron. Because
of the presence of slag, wrought iron resists corrosion and oxidation,
which cause rusting.

(b) Uses. Wrought iron is used for porch railings, fencing, farm
implements, nails, barbed wire, chains, modern household furniture,
and decorations.

(c) Capabilities. Wrought iron can be gas and arc welded,

machined,plated, and is easily formed.

(d) Limitations. Wrought iron has low hardness and low fatigue
strength.

(e) Properties. Wrought iron has Brinell hardness number of 105;

tensile strength of 35,000 psi; specific gravity of 7.7; melting point of
2750°F (1510°C); and is ductile and corrosion resistant.

(f) Appearance test. The appearance of wrought iron is the same as

that of rolled, low-carbon steel.
 (g) Fracture test. Wrought iron has a fibrous structure due to threads
of slag. As a result, it can be split in the direction in which the fibers
run. The metal is soft and easily cut with a chisel, and is quite ductile.
When nicked and bent, it acts like rolled steel. However, the break is
very jagged due to its fibrous structure. Wrought iron cannot be
hardened.

(h) Spark test. When wrought iron is ground, straw-colored sparks

form near the grinding wheel, and change to white, forked sparklers
near the end of the stream.

(i) Torch test. Wrought iron melts quietly without sparking. It has a
peculiar slag coating with white lines that are oily or greasy in
appearance.

(2) Cast iron (gray, white, and malleable).

(a) General. Cast iron is a manmade alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon.
A portion of the carbon exists as free carbon or graphite. Total carbon
content is between 1.7 and 4.5 percent.

(b) Uses. Cast iron is used for water pipes, machine tool castings,
transmission housing, engine blocks, pistons, stove castings, etc.

(c) Capabilities. Cast iron may be brazed or bronze welded, gas and
arc welded, hardened, or machined.

(d) Limitations. Cast iron must be preheated prior to welding. It

cannot be worked cold.

(e) Properties. Cast iron has a Brinell hardness number of 150 to 220
(no alloys) and 300 to 600 (alloyed); tensile strength of 25,000 to
50,000 psi (172,375 to 344,750 kPa) (no alloys) and 50,000 to
100,000 psi (344,750 to 689,500 kPa) (alloyed); specific gravity of
7.6; high compressive strength that is four times its tensile strength;
high rigidity; good wear resistance; and fair corrosion resistance.

(f) Gray cast iron. If the molten pig iron is permitted to cool slowly,
the chemical compound of iron and carbon breaks up to a certain
extent. Much of the carbon separates as tiny flakes of graphite
scattered throughout the metal. This graphite-like carbon, as
distinguish from combined carbon, causes the gray appearance of the
fracture, which characterizes ordinary gray cast iron. Since graphite is
an excellent lubricant, and the metal is shot throughout with tiny, flaky
cleavages, gray cast iron is easy to machine but cannot withstand a
heavy shock. Gray cast iron consists of 90 to 94 percent metallic iron
with a mixture of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon.
Special high-strength grades of this metal also contain 0.75 to 1.50
percent nickel and 0.25 to 0.50 percent chromium or 0.25 to 1.25
percent molybdenum. Commercial gray iron has 2.50 to 4.50 percent
carbon. About 1 percent of the carbon is combined with the iron, while
about 2.75 percent remains in the free or graphitic state. In making
gray cast iron, the silicon content is usually increased, since this allows
the formation of graphitic carbon. The combined carbon (iron carbide),
which is a small percentage of the total carbon present in cast iron, is
known as cementite. In general, the more free carbon (graphitic
carbon) present in cast iron, the lower the combined carbon content
and the softer the iron.

1. Appearance test. The unmachined surface of gray cast iron

castings is a very dull gray in color and may be somewhat
roughened by the sand mold used in casting the part. Cast iron
castings are rarely machined all over. Unmachined castings
may be ground in places to remove rough edges.

2. Fracture test. Nick a corner all around with a chisel or

hacksaw and strike the corner with a sharp blow of the
hammer. The dark gray color of the broken surface is caused
by fine black specks of carbon present in the form of graphite.
Cast iron breaks short when fractured. Small, brittle chips made
with a chisel break off as soon as they are formed.

3. Spark test. A small volume of dull-red sparks that follow a

straight line close to the wheel are given off when this metal is
spark tested. These break up into many fine, repeated spurts
that change to a straw color.

4. Torch test. The torch test results in a puddle of molten metal

that is quiet and has a jelly like consistency. When the torch
flame is raised, the depression in the surface of the molts-
puddle disappears instantly. A heavy, tough film forms on the
surface as it melts. The molten puddle takes time to harden
and gives off no sparks.

(g) White cast iron. When gray cast iron is heated to the molten state,
the carbon completely dissolves in the iron, probably combining
chemically with it. If this molten metal is cooled quickly, the two
elements remain in the combined state, and white cast iron is formed.
The carbon in this type of iron measures above 2.5 to 4.5 percent by
weight, and is referred to as combined carbon. White cast iron is very
hard and brittle, often impossible to machine, and has a silvery white
fracture.

(h) Malleable cast iron. Malleable cast iron is made by heating white
cast iron from 1400 to 1700°F (760 and 927°C) for abut 150 hours in
boxes containing hematite ore or iron scale. This heating causes a part
of the combined carbon to change into the free or uncombined state.
This free carbon separates in a different way from carbon in gray cast
iron and is called temper carbon. It exists in the form of small,
rounded particles of carbon which give malleable iron castings the
ability to bend before breaking and to withstand shock better than
gray cast iron. The castings have properties more like those of pure
iron: high strength, ductility, toughness, and ability to resist shock.
 Malleable cast iron can be welded and brazed. Any welded part should
be annealed after welding.

1. Appearance test. The surface of malleable cast iron is very

much like gray cast iron, but is generally free from sand. It is
dull gray and somewhat lighter in color than gray cast iron.

2. Fracture test. When malleable cast iron is fractured, the

central portion of the broken surface is dark gray with a bright,
steel-like band at the edges. The appearance of the fracture
may best be described as a picture frame. When of good
quality, malleable cast iron is much tougher than other cast
iron and does not break short when nicked.

3. Spark test. When malleable cast iron is ground, the outer,

bright layer gives off bright sparks like steel. As the interior is
reached, the sparks quickly change to a dull-red color near the
wheel. These sparks from the interior section are very much
like those of cast iron; however, they are somewhat longer and
are present in large volume.

4. Torch test. Molten malleable cast iron boils under the torch
flame. After the flame has been withdrawn, the surface will be
full of blowholes. When fractured, the melted parts are very
hard and brittle, having the appearance of white cast iron (they
have been changed to white or chilled iron by melting and fairly
rapid cooling). The outside, bright, steel-like band gives off
sparks, but the center does not.

(3) Steel.

(a) General. A form of iron, steel contains less carbon than cast iron,
but considerably more than wrought iron. The carbon content is from
0.03 to 1.7 percent. Basic carbon steels are alloyed with other
elements, such as chromium and nickel, to increase certain physical
properties of the metal.

(b) Uses. Steel is used to make nails, rivets, gears, structural steel,
roles, desks, hoods, fenders, chisels, hammers, etc.

(c) Capabilities. Steel can be machined, welded, and forged, all to

varying degrees, depending on the type of steel.

(d) Limitations. Highly alloyed steel is difficult to produce.

(e) Properties. Steel has tensile strength of 45,000 psi (310,275 kPa)
for low-carbon steel, 80,000 psi (551,600 kPa) for medium-carbon
steel, 99,000 psi (692,605 kPa) for high-carbon steel, and 150,000 psi
(1,034,250 kPa) for alloyed steel; and a melting point of 2800° F
(1538°C).
(f) Low-carbon steel (carbon content up to 0.30 percent. This steel is
soft and ductile, and can be rolled, punched, sheared, and worked
when either hot or cold. It is easily machined and can readily be
welded by all methods. It does not harden to any great amount;
however, it can easily be case hardened.

1. Appearance test. The appearance of the steel depends upon

the method of preparation rather than upon composition. Cast
steel has a relatively rough, dark-gray surface, except where it
has been machined. Rolled steel has fine surface lines running
in one direction. Forged steel is usually recognizable by its
shape, hammer marks, or fins.

2. Fracture test. When low-carbon steel is fractured, the color is

bright crystalline gray. It is tough to chip or nick. Low carbon
steel, wrought iron, and steel castings cannot be hardened.

3. Spark test. The steel gives off sparks in long yellow-orange

streaks, brighter than cast iron, that show some tendency to
burst into white, forked sparklers.

4. Torch test. The steel gives off sparks when melted, and
hardens almost instantly.

(g) Medium-carbon steel (carbon content ranging from 0.30 to 0.50

percent). This steel may be heat-treated after fabrication. It is used
for general machining and forging of parts that require surface
hardness and strength. It is made in bar form in the cold-rolled or the
normalized and annealed condition. During welding, the weld zone will
become hardened if cooled rapidly and must be stress-relieved after
welding.

(h) High-carbon steel (carbon content ranging from 0.50 to 0.90

percent). This steel is used for the manufacture of drills, taps, dies,
springs, and other machine tools and hand tools that are heat treated
after fabrication to develop the hard structure necessary to withstand
high shear stress and wear. It is manufactured in bar, sheet, and wire
forms, and in the annealed or normalized condition in order to be
suitable for machining before heat treatment. This steel is difficult to
weld because of the hardening effect of heat at the welded joint.

1. Appearance test. The unfinished surface of high-carbon steel

is dark gray and similar to other steel. It is more expensive,
and is usually worked to produce a smooth surface finish.

2. Fracture test. High-carbon steel usually produces a very fine-

grained fracture, whiter than low-carbon steel. Tool steel is
harder and more brittle than plate steel or other low-carbon
material. High-carbon steel can be hardened by heating to a
good red and quenching in water.
 3. Spark test. High-carbon steel gives off a large volume of
bright yellow-orange sparks.

4. Torch test. Molten high-carbon steel is brighter than

lowcarbon steel, and the melting surface has a porous
appearance. It sparks more freely than low-carbon (mild)
steels, and the sparks are whiter.

(i) High carbon tool steel. Tool steel (carbon content ranging from 0.90
to 1.55 percent) is used in the manufacture of chisels, shear blades,
cutters, large taps, wood-turning tools, blacksmith’s tools, razors, and
similar parts where high hardness is required to maintain a sharp
cutting edge. It is difficult to weld due to the high carbon content. A
spark test shows a moderately large volume of white sparks having
many fine, repeating bursts.

(4) Cast steel.

(a) General. Welding is difficult on steel castings containing over 0.30

percent carbon and 0.20 percent silicon. Alloy steel castings containing
nickel, molybdenum, or both of these metals, are easily welded if the
carbon content is low. Those containing chromium or vanadium are
more difficult to weld. Since manganese steel is nearly always used in
the form of castings, it is also considered with cast steel. Its high
resistance to wear is its most valuable property.

(b) Appearance test. The surface of cast steel is brighter than cast or
malleable iron and sometimes contains small, bubble-like depressions.

(c) Fracture test. The color of a fracture in cast steel is bright

crystalline gray. This steel is tough and does not break short. Steel
castings are tougher than malleable iron, and chips made with a chisel
curl up more. Manganese steel, however, is so tough that is cannot be
cut with a chisel nor can it be machined.

(d) Spark test. The sparks created from cast steel are much brighter
than those from cast iron. Manganese steel gives off marks that
explode, throwing off brilliant sparklers at right angles to the original-
path of the spark:

(e) Torch test. When melted, cast steel sparks and hardens quickly.

(5) Steel forgings.

(a) General. Steel forgings may be of carbon or alloy steels. Alloy steel
forgings are harder and more brittle than low carbon steels.

(b) Appearance test. The surface of steel forgings is smooth. Where

the surface of drop forgings has not been finished, there will be
evidence of the fin that results from the metal squeezing out between
the two forging dies. This fin is removed by the trimming dies, but
 enough of the sheared surface remains for identification. All forgings
are covered with reddish brown or black scale, unless they have been
purposely cleaned.

(c) Fracture test. The color of a fracture in a steel forging varies from
bright crystalline to silky gray. Chips are tough; and when a sample is
nicked, it is harder to break than cast steel and has a finer grain.
Forgings may be of low-or high-carbon steel or of alloy steel. Tool
steel is harder and more brittle than plate steel or other low-carbon
material. The fracture is usually whiter and finer grained. Tool steel
can be hardened by heating to a good red and then quenching in
water. Low-carbon steel, wrought iron, and steel castings cannot be
usefully hardened.

(d) Spark test. The sparks given off are long, yellow-orange streamers
and are typical steel sparks. Sparks from high-carbon steel (machinery
and tool steel) are much brighter than those from low-carbon steel.

(e) Torch test. Steel forgings spark when melted, and the sparks
increase in number and brightness as the carbon content becomes
greater.

(6) Alloy steel.

(a) General. Alloy steel is frequently recognizable by its use. There are
many varieties of alloy steel used in the manufacture of Army
equipment. They have greater strength and durability than carbon
steel, and a given strength is secured with less material weight.
Manganese steel is a special alloy steel that is always used in the cast
condition (see cast steel, above).

Nickel, chromium, vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, and silicon are

the most common elements used in alloy steel.

1. Chromium is used as an alloying element in carbon steels to

increase hardenability, corrosion resistance, and shock
resistance. It imparts high strength with little loss in ductility.

2. Nickel increases the toughness, strength, and ductility of

steels, and lowers the hardening temperatures so than an oil
quench, rather than a water quench, is used for hardening.

3. Manganese is used in steel to produce greater toughness,

wear resistance, easier hot rolling, and forging. An increase in
manganese content decreases the weldability of steel.

4. Molybdenum increases hardenability, which is the depth of

hardening possible through heat treatment. The impact fatigue
property of the steel is improved with up to 0.60 percent
molybdenum. Above 0.60 percent molybdenum, the impact
fatigue property is impaired. Wear resistance is improved with
 molybdenum content above 0.75 percent. Molybdenum is
sometimes combined with chromium, tungsten, or vanadium to
obtain desired properties.

5. Titanium and columbium (niobium) are used as additional

alloying agents in low-carbon content, corrosion resistant
steels. They support resistance to intergranular corrosion after
the metal is subjected to high temperatures for a prolonged
time period.

6. Tungsten, as an alloying element in tool steel, produces a

fine, dense grain when used in small quantities. When used in
larger quantities, from 17 to 20 percent, and in combination
with other alloys, it produces a steel that retains its hardness at
high temperatures.

7. Vanadium is used to help control grain size. It tends to

increase hardenability and causes marked secondary hardness,
yet resists tempering. It is also added to steel during
manufacture to remove oxygen.

8. Silicon is added to steel to obtain greater hardenability and

corrosion resistance, and is often used with manganese to
obtain a strong, tough steel. High speed tool steels are usually
special alloy compositions designed for cutting tools. The
carbon content ranges from 0.70 to 0.80 percent. They are
difficult to weld except by the furnace induction method.

9. High yield strength, low alloy structural steels (often referred

to as constructional alloy steels) are special low carbon steels
containing specific small amounts of alloying elements. These
steels are quenched and tempered to obtain a yield strength of
90,000 to 100,000 psi (620,550 to 689,500 kPa) and a tensile
strength of 100,000 to 140,000 psi (689,500 to 965,300 kPa),
depending upon size and shape. Structural members fabricated
of these high strength steels may have smaller cross sectional
areas than common structural steels, and still have equal
strength. In addition, these steels are more corrosion and
abrasion resistant. In a spark test, this alloy appears very
similar to the low carbon steels.

NOTE

This type of steel is much tougher than low carbon steels, and shearing machines must
have twice the capacity required for low carbon steels.

(b) Appearance test. Alloy steel appear the same as drop-forged steel.

(c) Fracture test. Alloy steel is usually very close grained; at times the
fracture appears velvety.
(d) Spark test. Alloy steel produces characteristic sparks both in color
and shape. Some of the more common alloys used in steel and their
effects on the spark stream are as follows:

1. Chromium. Steels containing 1 to 2 percent chromium have

no outstanding features in the spark test. Chromium in large
amounts shortens the spark stream length to one-half that of
the same steel without chromium, but does not appreciably
affect the stream’s brightness. Other elements shorten the
stream to the same extent and also make it duller. An 18
percent chromium, 8 percent nickel stainless steel produces a
spark similar to that of wrought iron, but only half as long.
Steel containing 14 percent chromium and no nickel produces a
shorter version of the low-carbon spark. An 18 percent
chromium, 2 percent carbon steel (chromium die steel)
produces a spark similar to that of carbon tool steel, but one-
third as long.

2. Nickel. The nickel spark has a short, sharply defined dash of

brilliant light just before the fork. In the amounts found in S. A.
E. steels, nickel can be recognized only when the carbon
content is so low that the bursts are not too noticeable.

3. High chromium-nickel alloy (stainless) steels. The sparks

given off during a spark test are straw colored near the
grinding wheel and white near the end of the streak. There is a
medium volume of streaks having a moderate number of forked
bursts.

4. Manganese. Steel containing this element produces a spark

similar to a carbon steel spark. A moderate increase in
manganese increases the volume of the spark stream and the
force of the bursts. Steel containing more than the normal
amount of manganese will spark in a manner similar to high-
carbon steel with low manganese content.

5. Molybdenum. Steel containing this element produces a

characteristic spark with a detached arrowhead similar to that
of wrought iron. It can be seen even in fairly strong carbon
bursts. Molybdenum alloy steel contains nickel, chromium, or
both.

6. Molybdenum with other elements. When molybdenum and

other elements are substituted for some of the tungsten in
high-speed steel, the spark stream turns orange. Although
other elements give off a red spark, there is enough difference
in their color to tell them from a tungsten spark.

7. Tungsten. Tungsten will impart a dull red color to the spark

stream near the wheel. It also shortens the spark stream,
decreases the size, or completely eliminates the carbon burst.
Steel containing 10 percent tungsten causes short, curved,
 orange spear points at the end of the carrier lines. Still lower
tungsten content causes small white bursts to appear at the
end of the spear point. Carrier lines may be anything from dull
red to orange in color, depending on the other elements
present, if the tungsten content is not too high.

8. Vanadium. Alloy steels containing vanadium produce sparks

with a detached arrowhead at the end of the carrier line similar
to those arising from molybdenum steels. The spark test is not
positive for vanadium steels.

9. High speed tool steels. A spark test in these steels will

impart a few long; forked sparks which are red near the wheel,
and straw-colored near the end of the spark stream.

(7) Special steel. Plate steel is used in the manufacture of built-up welded
structures such as gun carriages. In using nickel plate steel, it has been found
that commercial grades of low-alloy structural steel of not over 0.25 percent
carbon, and several containing no nickel at all, are better suited to welding
than those with a maximum carbon content of 0.30 percent. Armorplate, a
low carbon alloyed steel, is an example of this kind of plate. Such plate is
normally used in the "as rolled" condition. Electric arc welding with a covered
electrode may require preheating of the metal, followed by a proper stress-
relieving heat treatment (post heating), to produce a structure in which the
welded joint has properties equal to those of the plate metal.

e. Nonferrous metal.

(1) Aluminum (Al).

(a) General. Aluminum is a lightweight, soft, low strength metal which

can easily be cast, forged, machined, formed, and welded. It is
suitable only in low temperature applications, except when alloyed
with specific elements. Commercial aluminum alloys are classified into
two groups, wrought alloys and cast alloys. The wrought alloy group
includes those alloys which are designed for mill products whose final
physical forms are obtained by working the metal mechanically. The
casting alloy group includes those alloys whose final shapes are
obtained by allowing the molten metal to solidify in a mold.

(b) Uses. Aluminum is used as a deoxidizer and alloying agent in the

manufacture of steel. Castings, pistons, torque converter pump
housings, aircraft structures, kitchen utensils, railways cars, and
transmission lines are made of aluminum.

(c) Capabilities. Aluminum can be cast, forged, machined, formed, and

welded.

(d) Limitations. Direct metal contact of aluminum with copper and

copper alloys should be avoided. Aluminum should be used in low-
temperature applications.
 (e) Properties. Pure aluminum has a Brinell hardness number of 17 to
27; tensile strength of 6000 to 16,000 psi (41,370 to 110,320 kPa);
specific gravity of 2.7; and a melting point of 1220°F (660°C).
Aluminum alloys have a Brinell hardness number of 100 to 130, and
tensile strength of 30,000 to 75,000 psi (206,850 to 517,125 kPa).
Generally, aluminum and aluminum alloys have excellent heat
conductivity; high electrical conductivity (60 percent that of copper,
volume for volume; high strength/weight ratio at room temperature;
and unfairly corrosion resistant.

(f) Appearance test. Aluminum is light gray to silver in color, very

bright when polished, dull when oxidized, and light in weight. Rolled
and sheet aluminum materials are usually pure metal. Castings are
alloys of aluminum with other metals, usually zinc, copper, silicon, and
sometimes iron and magnesium. Wrought aluminum alloys may
contain chromium, silicon, magnesium, or manganese. Aluminum
strongly resembles magnesium in appearance. Aluminum is
distinguished from magnesium by the application of a drop of silver
nitrate solution on each surface. The silver nitrate will not react with
the aluminum, but leaves a black deposit of silver on the magnesium.

(g) Fracture test. A fracture in rolled aluminum sections shows a

smooth, bright structure. A fracture in an aluminum casting shins a
bright crystalline structure.

(h) Spark test. No sparks are given off from aluminum.

(i) Torch test. Aluminum does not turn red before melting. It holds its
shape until almost molten, then collapses (hot shorts) suddenly. A
heavy film of white oxide forms instantly on the molten surface.

(2) Chromium (Cr).

(a) General. Chromium is an alloying agent used in steel, cast iron,

and nonferrous alloys of nickel, copper, aluminum, and cobalt. It is
hard, brittle, corrosion resistant, can be welded, machined, forged,
and is widely used in electroplating. Chromium is not resistant to
hydrochloric acid and cannot be used in its pure state because of its
difficulty to work.

(b) Uses. Chromium is one of the most widely used alloys. It is used as
an alloying agent in steel and cast iron (0.25 to 0.35 percent) and in
nonferrous alloys of nickel, copper, aluminum, and cobalt. It is also
used in electroplating for appearance and wear, in powder metallurgy,
and to make mirrors and stainless steel.

(c) Capabilities. Chromium alloys can be welded, machined, and

forged. Chromium is never used in its pure state.
 (d) Limitations. Chromium is not resistant to hydrochloric acid, and
cannot be used in the pure state because of its brittleness and
difficulty to work.

(e) Properties (pure). Chromium has a specific gravity of 7.19; a

melting point of 3300°F (1816°C); Brinell hardness number of 110 to
170; is resistant to acids other than hydrochloric; and is wear, heat,
and corrosion resistant.

(3) Cobalt (Co).

(a) General. Cobalt is a hard, white metal similar to nickel in

appearance, but has a slightly bluish cast.

(b) Uses. Cobalt is mainly used as an alloying element in permanent

and soft magnetic materials, high-speed tool bits and cutters, high-
temperature, creep-resisting alloys, and cemented carbide tools, bits,
and cutters. It is also used in making insoluble paint pigmnts and blue
ceramic glazes. In the metallic form, cobalt does not have many uses.
However, when combined with other elements, it is used for hard
facing materials.

(c) Capabilities. Cobalt can be welded, machined (limited), and cold-

drawn.

(d) Limitations. Cobalt must be machined with cemented carbide

cutters. Welding high carbon cobalt steel often causes cracking.

(e) Properties. Pure cobalt has a tensile strength of 34,000 psi

(234,430 kPa); Brinell hardness number of 125; specific gravity of
8.9; and a melting point of 2720°F (1493°C). Cobalt alloy (Stellite 21)
has a tensile strength of 101,000 psi (696,395 kPa) and is heat and
corrosion resistant.

(4) Copper (Cu).

(a) General. Copper is a reddish metal, is very ductile and malleable,

and has high electrical and heat conductivity. It is used as a major
element in hundreds of alloys. Commercially pure copper is not
suitable for welding. Though it is very soft, it is very difficult to
machine due to its high ductility. Beryllium copper contains from 1.50
to 2.75 percent beryllium. It is ductile when soft, but loses ductility
and gains tensile strength when hardened. Nickel copper contains
either 10, 20, or 30 percent nickel. Nickel alloys have moderately high
to high tensile strength, which increases with the nickel content. They
are moderately hard, quite tough, and ductile. They are very resistant
to the erosive and corrosive effects of high velocity sea water, stress
corrosion, and corrosion fatigue. Nickel is added to copper zinc alloys
(brasses) to lighten their color; the resultant alloys are called nickel
silver. These alloys are of two general types, one type containing 65
percent or more copper and nickel combined, the other containing 55
to 60 percent copper and nickel combined. The first type can be cold
worked by such operations as deep drawing, stamping, and spinning.
The second type is much harder end is not processed by any of the
cold working methods. Gas welding is the preferred process for joining
copper and copper alloys.

(b) Uses. The principal use of commercially pure copper is in the

electrical industry where it is made into wire or other such conductors.
It is also used in the manufacture of nonferrous alloys such as brass,
bronze, and Monel metal. Typical copper products are sheet roofing,
cartridge cases, bushings, wire, bearings, and statues.

(c) Capababilities. Copper can be forged, cast, and cold worked. It can
also be welded, but its machinability is only fair. Copper alloys can be
welded.

(d) Limitations. Electrolytic tough pitch copper cannot be welded

satisfactorily. Pure copper is not suitable for welding and is difficult to
machine due to its ductility.

(e) Properties. Pure copper is nonmagnetic; has a Brinell hardness

number of 60 to 110; a tensile strength of 32,000 to 60,000 psi
(220,640 to 413,700 kPa); specific gravity of 8.9; melting point of
1980°F (1082°C); and is corrosion resistant. Copper alloys have a
tensile strength of 50,000 to 90,000 psi (344,750 to 620,550 kPa) and
a Brinell hardness number of 100 to 185.

(f) Appearance test. Copper is red in color when polished, and oxidizes
to various shades of green.

(g) Fracture test. Copper presents a smooth surface when fractured,

which is free from crystalline appearance.

(h) Spark test. Copper gives off no sparks.

(i) Torch test. Because copper conducts heat rapidly, a larger flame is
required to produce fusion of copper than is needed for the same size
piece of steel. Copper melts suddenly and solidifies instantly. Copper
alloy, containing small amounts of other metals, melts more easily and
solidifies more slowly than pure copper.

(j) Brass and bronze. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc (60 to 68
percent copper and 32 to 40 percent zinc), has a low melting point and
high heat conductivity. There are several types of brass, such as
naval, red, admiralty, yellow, and commercial. All differ in copper and
zinc content; may be alloyed with other elements such as lead, tin,
manganese, or iron; have good machinability; and can be welded.
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and may contain lead, zinc, nickel,
manganese, or phosphorus. It has high strength, is rust or corrosion
resistant, has good machinability, and can be welded.
 1. Appearance test. The color of polished brass and bronze
varies with the composition from red, almost like copper, to
yellow brass. They oxidize to various shades of green, brown,
or yellow.

2. Fracture test. The surface of fractured brass or bronze

ranges from smooth to crystalline, depending upon composition
and method of preparation; i. e., cast, rolled, or forged.

3. Spark test. Brass and bronze give off no sparks.

4. Torch test. Brass contains zinc, which gives off white fumes
when it is melted. Bronze contains tin. Even a slight amount of
tin makes the alloy flow very freely, like water. Due to the
small amount of zinc or tin that is usually present, bronze may
fume slightly, but never as much as brass.

(k) Aluminum bronze.

1. Appearance test. When polished, aluminum bronze appears a

darker yellow than brass.

2. Fracture test. Aluminum bronze presents a smooth surface

when fractured.

3. Spark test. Aluminum bronze gives off no sparks.

4. Torch test. Welding aluminum bronze is very difficult. The

surface is quickly covered with a heavy scum that tends to mix
with the metal and is difficult to remove.

(5) Lead (Pb).

CAUTION

Lead dust and fumes are poisonous. Exercise extreme care when welding lead, and use
personal protective equipment.

(a) General. Lead is a heavy, soft, malleable metal with low melting
point, low tensile strength, and low creep strength. It is resistant to
corrosion from ordering atmosphere, moisture, and water, and is
effective against many acids. Lead is well suited for cold working and
casting. The low melting point of lead makes the correct welding rod
selection very important.

(b) Uses. Lead is used mainly in the manufacture of electrical

equipment such as lead-coated power and telephone cables, and
storage batteries. It is also used in building construction in both pipe
and sheet form, and in solder. Zinc alloys are used in the manufacture
of lead weights, bearings, gaskets, seals, bullets, and shot. Many types
of chemical compounds are produced from lead; among these are lead
 carbonate (paint pigment) and tetraethyl lead (antiknock gasoline).
Lead is also used for X-ray protection (radiation shields). Lead has
more fields of application than any other metal.

(c) Capabilities. Lead can be cast, cold worked, welded, and machined.
It is corrosion, atmosphere, moisture, and water resistant, and is
resistant to many acids.

(d) Limitations. Lead has low strength with heavy weight. Lead dust
and fumes are very poisonous.

(e) Properties. Pure lead has tensile strength of 2500 to 3000 psi
(17,237.5 to 20,685 kPa); specific gravity of 11.3; and a melting point
of 620°F (327°C). Alloy lead B32-467 has tensile strength of 5800 psi
(39,991 kPa). Generally, lead has low electrical conductivity; is self-
lubricating; is malleable; and is corrosion resistant.

(6) Magnesium (Mg).

(a) General. Magnesium is an extremely light metal, is white in color,

has a low melting point, excellent machinability, and is weldable.
Welding by either the arc or gas process requires the use of a gaseous
shield. Magnesium is moderately resistant to atmospheric exposure,
many chemicals such as alkalies, chromic and hydrofluoric acids,
hydrocarbons, and most alcohols, phenols, esters, and oils. It is
nonmagnetic. Galvanic corrosion is an important factor in any
assembly with magnesium.

(b) Uses. Magnesium is used as a deoxidizer for brass, bronze, nickel,

and silver. Because of its light weight, it is used in many weight-saving
applications, particularly in the aircraft industry. It is also used in the
manufacture and use of fireworks for railroad flares and signals, and
for military purposes. Magnesium castings are used for engine
housings, blowers, hose pieces, landing wheels, and certain parts of
the fuselage of aircraft. Magnesium alloy materials are used in sewing
machines, typewriters, and textile machines.

(c) Capabilities. Magnesium can be forged, cast, welded, and

machined.

(d) Limitations. Magnesium in fine chip form will ignite at low

temperatures (800 to 1200°F (427 to 649°C)). The flame can be
mothered with suitable materials such as carbon dioxide (CO2), foam,
and sand.

(e) Properties. Pure magnesium has tensile strength of 12,000 psi

(82,740 kPa) (cast) and tensile strength of 37,000 psi (255,115 kPa)
(rolled); Brinell hardness number of 30 (cast) and 50 (rolled); specific
gravity of 1.7; and a melting point of 1202°F (650°C). Magnesium
alloy has Brinell hardness number of 72 (hard) and 50 (forged); and
 tensile strength of 42,000 psi (289,590 kPa) (hard) and 32,000 psi
(220,640 kPa) (forged).

(f) Appearance test. Magnesium resembles aluminum in appearance.

The polished surface is silver-white, but quickly oxidizes to a grayish
film. Like aluminum, it is highly corrosion resistant and has a good
strength-to-weight ratio, but is lighter in weight than aluminum. It has
a very low kindling point and is not very weldable, except when it is
alloyed with manganese and aluminum. Magnesium is distinguished
from aluminum by the use of a silver nitrate solution. The solution
does not react with aluminum, but leaves a black deposit of silver on
magnesium. Magnesium is produced in large quantities from sea
water. It has excellent machinability, but special care must be used
when machining because of its low kindling point.

(g) Fracture test. Magnesium has a rough surface with a fine grain
structure.

(h) Spark test. No sparks are given off.

CAUTION

Magnesium may ignite and burn when heated in the open atmosphere.

(i) Torch test. Magnesium oxidizes rapidly when heated in open air,
producing an oxide film which is insoluble in the liquid metal. A fire
may result when magnesium is heated in the open atmosphere. As a
safety precaution, magnesium should be melted in an atmosphere of
inert gas.

(7) Manganese (Mn).

(a) General. Pure manganese has a relatively high tensile strength, but
is very brittle. Manganese is used as an alloying agent in steel to
deoxidize and desulfurize the metal. In metals other than steel,
percentages of 1 to 15 percent manganese will increase the toughness
and the hardenability of the metal involved.

(b) Uses. Manganese is used mainly as an alloying agent in making

steel to increase tensile strength. It is also added during the steel-
making process to remove sulfur as a slag. Austenitic manganese
steels are used for railroad track work, power shovel buckets, and rock
crushers. Medium-carbon manganese steels are used to make car
axles and gears.

(c) Capabilities. Manganese can be welded, machined, and cold-

worked.

(d) Limitations. Austenitic manganese steels are best machined with

cemented carbide, cobalt, and high-speed steel cutters.
 (e) Properties. Pure manganese has tensile strength of 72,000 psi
(496,440 kPa) (quenched) Brinell hardness number of 330; specific
gravity of 7.43: a melting point of 2270°F (1243°C); and is brittle.
Manganese alloy has a tensile strength of 110,000 psi (758,450 kPa).
Generally, manganese is highly polishable and brittle.

(8) Molybdenum (Mo).

(a) General. Pure molybdenum has a high tensile strength and is very
resistant to heat. It is principally used as an alloying agent in steel to
increase strength, hardenability, and resistance to heat.

(b) Uses. Molybdenum is used mainly as an alloy. Heating elements,

switches, contacts, thermocouplers, welding electrodes, and cathode
ray tubes are made of molybdenum.

(c) Capabilities. Molybdenum can be swaged, rolled, drawn, or

machined.

(d) Limitations. Molybdenum can only be welded by atomic hydrogen

arc, or butt welded by resistance heating in vacuum. It is attacked by
nitric acid, hot sulfuric acid, and hot hydrochloric acid.

(e) Properties. Pure molybdenum has a tensile strength of 100,000 psi

(689,500 kPa) (sheet) and 30,000 Psi (206,850 kPa) (wire); Brinell
hardness number of 160 to 185; specific gravity of 10.2; meting point
of 4800°F (2649°C); retains hardness and strength at high
temperatures; and is corrosion resistant.

(9) Nickel (Ni).

(a) General. Nickel is a hard, malleable, ductile metal. As an alloy, it

will increase ductility, has no effect on grain size, lowers the critical
point for heat treatment, aids fatigue strength, and increases impact
values in low temperature operations. Both nickel and nickel alloys are
machinable and are readily welded by gas and arc methods.

(b) Uses. Nickel is used in making alloys of both ferrous and

nonferrous metal. Chemical and food processing equipment, electrical
resistance heating elements, ornamental trim, and parts that must
withstand elevated temperatures are all produced from nickel-
containing metal. Alloyed with chromium, it is used in the making of
stainless steel.

(c) Capabilities. Nickel alloys are readily welded by either the gas or
arc methods. Nickel alloys can be machined, forged, cast, and easily
formed.

(d) Limitations. Nickel oxidizes very slowly in the presence of moisture

or corrosive gases.
 (e) Properties. Pure nickel has tensile strength of 46,000 psi (317,170
kPa); Brinell hardness number 220; specific gravity of 8.9; and
melting point of 2650°F (1454°C). Nickel alloys have Brinell hardness
number of 140 to 230. Monel-forged nickel has tensile strength of
100,000 psi (689,500 kPa), and high strength and toughness at high
temperatures.

(f) Appearance. Pure nickel has a grayish white color.

(g) Fracture. The fracture surface of nickel is smooth and fine grained.

(h) Spark test. In a spark test, nickel produces a very small amount of
short, orange streaks which are generally wavy.

(i) Monel metal. Monel metal is a nickel alloy of silver-white color

containing about 67.00 percent nickel, 29.00 to 80.00 percent copper,
1.40 percent iron, 1.00 percent manganese, 0.10 percent silicon, and
0.15 percent carbon. In appearance, it resembles untarnished nickel.
After use, or after contact with chemical solutions, the silver-white
color takes on a yellow tinge, and some of the luster is lost. It has a
very high resistance to corrosion and can be welded.

(10) Tin (Sn).

(a) General. Tin is a very soft, malleable, somewhat ductile, corrosion

resistant metal having low tensile strength and high crystalline
structure. It is used in coating metals to prevent corrosion.

(b) Uses. The major application of tin is in coating steel. It serves as

the best container for preserving perishable focal. Tin, in the form of
foil, is often used in wrapping food products. A second major use of tin
is as an alloying element. Tin is alloyed with copper to produce tin
brass and bronze, with lead to produce solder, and with antimony and
lead to form babbitt.

(c) Capabilities. Tin can be die cast, cold worked (extruded),

machined, and soldered.

(d) Limitations. Tin is not weldable.

(e) Properties. Pure tin has tensile strength of 2800 psi (19,306 kPa);
specific gravity of 7.29; melting point of 450°F (232°C); and is
corrosion resistant. Babbitt alloy tin has tensile strength of 10,000 psi
(68,950 kPa) and Brinell hardness number of 30.

(f) Appearance. Tin is silvery white in color.

(g) Fracture test. The fracture surface of tin is silvery white and fairly
smooth.

(h) Spark test. Tin gives off no sparks in a spark test.

 (i) Torch test. Tin melts at 450°F (232°C), and will boil under the
torch.

(11) Titanium (Ti).

(a) General. Titanium is a very soft, silvery white, medium-strength

metal having very good corrosion resistance. It has a high strength to
weight ratio, and its tensile strength increases as the temperature
decreases. Titanium has low impact and creep strengths, as well as
seizing tendencies, at temperatures above 800°F (427°C).

(b) Uses. Titanium is a metal of the tin group which occurs naturally as
titanium oxide or in other oxide forms. The free element is separated
by heating the oxide with aluminum or by the electrolysis of the
solution in calcium chloride. Its most important compound is titanium
dioxide, which is used widely in welding electrode coatings. It is used
as a stabilizer in stainless steel so that carbon will not be separated
during the welding operation. It is also used as an additive in alloying
aluminum, copper, magnesium, steel, and nickel; making powder for
fireworks; and in the manufacture of turbine blades, aircraft firewalls,
engine nacelles, frame assemblies, ammunition tracks, and mortar
base plates.

(c) Capabilities. Titanium can be machined at low speeds and fast

feeds; formal; spot-and seam-welded, and fusion welded using inert
gas.

(d) Limitations. Titanium has low impact strength, and low creep
strength at high temperatures (above 800°F (427°C)). It can only be
cast into simple shapes, and it cannot be welded by any gas welding
process because of its high attraction for oxygen. Oxidation causes this
metal to become quite brittle. The inert gas welding process is
recommended to reduce contamination of the weld metal.

(e) Properties. Pure titanium has a tensile strength of 100,000 psi;

Brinell hardness number of 200; specific gravity of 4.5; melting point
of 3300°F (1851°C); and good corrosion resistance. Alloy titanium has
a Brinell hardness number of 340; tensile strength of 150,000 psi; and
a high strength/weight ratio (twice that of aluminum alloy at 400°F
(204°C)).

(f) Appearance test. Titanium is a soft, shiny, silvery-white metal

burns in air and is the only element that burns in nitrogen. Titanium
alloys look like steel, and can be distinguished from steel by a copper
sulfate solution. The solution will not react with titanium, but will leave
a coating of copper on steel.

(g) Spark test. The sparks given off are large, brilliant white, and of
medium length.

(12) Tungsten (W).

 (a) General. Tungsten is a hard, heavy, nonmagnetic metal which will
melt at approximately 6150°F (3400°C).

(b) Uses. Tungsten is used in making light bulb filaments, phonograph

needles, and as an alloying agent in production of high-speed steel,
armorplate, and projectiles. It is also used as an alloying agent in
nonconsumable welding electrodes, armor plate, die and tool steels,
and hard metal carbide cutting tools.

(c) Capabilities. Tungsten can be cold and hot drawn.

(d) Limitations. Tungsten is hard to machine, requires high

temperatures for melting, and is produced by powered metallurgy
(sintering process).

(e) Properties. Tungsten has a melting point of 6170 ± 35°F (3410 ±

19°C); is ductile; has tensile strength of 105,000 psi (723,975 kPa); a
specific gravity of 19.32; thermal conductivity of 0.397; a Brinell
hardness number of 38; and is a dull white color.

(f) Appearance. Tungsten is steel gray in color.

(g) Spark test. Tungsten produces a very small volume of short,

straight, orange streaks in a spark test.

(13) Zinc (Zn).

(a) General. Zinc is a medium low strength metal having a very low
melting point. Ito is easy to machine, but coarse grain zinc should be
heated to approximately 180°F (82°C) to avoid cleavage of crystals.
Zinc can be soldered or welded if it is properly cleaned and the heat
input closely controlled.

(b) Uses.

1. Galvanizing metal is the largest use of zinc and is done by

dipping the part in molten zinc or by electroplating it. Examples
of items made in this way are galvanized pipe, tubing, sheet
metal, wire, nails, and bolts. Zinc is also used as an alloying
element in producing alloys such as brass and bronze. Those
alloys that are made up primarily of zinc itself.

2. Typical parts made with zinc alloy are die castings, toys,
ornaments, building equipment, carburetor and fuel pump
bodies, instrument panels, wet and dry batteries, fuse plugs,
pipe organ pipes, munitions, cooking utensils, and flux. Other
forms of zinc include zinc oxide and zinc sulfide, widely used in
paint and rubber, and zinc dust, which is used in the
manufacture of explosives and chemical agents.
 (c) Capabilities. Zinc can be cast, cold worked (extruded), machined,
and welded.

(d) Limitations. Do not use zinc die castings in continuous contact with
steam.

(e) Properties. Zinc has a tensile strength of 12,000 psi (82,740 kPa)
(cast) and 27,000 psi (186,165 kPa) (rolled); a specific gravity of 7.1;
a melting point of 790°F (421°C); is corrosion resistant; and is brittle
at 220°F (104°C).

(f) Appearance. Both zinc and zinc alloys are blue-white in color when
polished, and oxidize to gray.

(g) Fracture test. Zinc fractures appear somewhat granular.

(h) Spark test. Zinc and zinc alloys give off no sparks in a spark test.

(i) Zinc die castings.

1. Appearance test. Die castings are usually alloys of zinc,

aluminum, magnesium, lead, and tin. They are light in weight,
generally silvery white in color (like aluminum), and sometimes
of intricate design. A die-cast surface is much smoother than
that of a casting made in sand, and is almost as smooth as a
machined surface. Sometimes, die castings darkened by use
may be mistaken for malleable iron when judged simply by
looks, but the die casting is lighter in weight and softer.

2. Fracture test. The surface of a zinc die casting is white and

has a slight granular structure.

3. Spark test. Zinc die castings give off no sparks.

4. Torch test. Zinc die castings can be recognized by their low

melting temperatures. The metal boils when heated with the
oxyacetylene flame. A die casting, after thorough cleaning, can
be welded with a carburizing flame using tin or aluminum
solders as filler metal. If necessary, the die-cast part can be
used as a pattern to make a new brass casting.

(14) White metal die castings.

(a) General. These are usually made with alloys of aluminum, lead,
magnesium, or tin. Except for those made of lead and tin, they are
generally light in weight and white in color.

(b) Appearance. The surface is much smoother than that produced by

castings made in sand.

(c) Fracture test. Fractured surface is white and somewhat granular.

 (d) Spark test. No sparks given off in a spark test.

(e) Torch test. Melting points are low, and the metal boils under the
torch.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND WELDABILITY OF FERROUS METALS

7-10. LOW CARBON STEELS

a. General. The low carbon (mild) steels include those with a carbon content of up to 0.30
percent (fig. 7-7). In most low carbon steels, carbon ranges from 0.10 to 0.25 percent,
manganese from 0.25 to 0.50 percent, phosphorous 0.40 percent maximum, and sulfur
0.50 percent maximum. Steels in this range are most widely used for industrial fabrication
and construction. These low carbon steels do not harden appreciably when welded, and
therefore do not require preheating or postheating except in special cases, such as when
heavy sections are to be welded. In general, no difficulties are encountered when welding
low carbon steels. Properly made low carbon steel welds will equal or exceed the base metal
in strength. Low carbon steels are soft, ductile, can be rolled, punched, sheared, and
worked when either hot or cold. They can be machined and are readily welded. Cast steel
has a rough, dark gray surface except where machined. Rolled steel has fine surface lines
running in one direction. Forged steel is usually recognizable by its shape, hammer marks,
or fins. The fracture color is bright crystalline gray, and the spark test yields sparks with
long, yellow-orange streaks that have a tendency to burst into white, forked sparklers. Steel
gives off sparks when melted and solidifies almost instantly. Low carbon steels can be easily
welded with any of the arc, gas, and resistance welding processes.

b. Copper coated low carbon rods should be used for welding low carbon steel. The rod sizes
for various plate thicknesses are as follows:
 Plate thickness Rod diameter
1/16 to 1/8 in. (1.6 to 3.2 mm) 1/16 in. (1.6 mm)
1/8 to 3/8 in. (3.2 to 9.5 mm) 1/8 in. (3.2 mm)
3/8 to 1/2 in. (9.5 to 12.7 mm) 3/16 in. (4.8 mm)
1/2 in. (12.7mm) and heavier 1/4 in. (6.4 mm)

NOTE

Rods from 5/16 to 3/8 in. (7.9 to 9.5 mm) are available for heavy welding. However, heavy
welds can be made with the 3/16 or 1/4 in. (4.8 or 6.4 mm) rods by properly controlling the
puddle and melting rate of the rod.

c. The joints may be prepared by flame cutting or machining. The type of preparation (fig.
7-8) is determined by the plate thickness and the welding position.

d. The flame should be adjusted to neutral. Either the forehand or backhand welding
method may be used, depending on the thickness of the plates being welded.

e. The molten metal should not be overheated, because this will cause the metal to boil and
spark excessively. The resultant grain structure of the weld metal will be large, the strength
lowered, and the weld badly scarred.

f. The low carbon steels do not harden in the fusion zone as a result of welding.

g. Metal-Arc Welding.

(1) When metal-arc welding low carbon steels, the bare, thin coated or heavy
coated shielded arc types of electrodes may be used. These electrodes are of
low carbon type (0.10 to 0.14 percent).
 (2) Low carbon sheet or plate materials that have been exposed to low
temperatures should be preheated slightly to room temperature before
welding.

(3) In welding sheet metal up to 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) in thickness, the plain
square butt joint type of edge preparation may be used. When long seams
are to be welded in these materials, the edges should be spaced to allow for
shrinkage, because the deposited metal tends to pull the plates together. This
shrinkage is less severe in arc welding than in gas welding, and spacing of
approximately 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) will be sufficient.

(4) The backstep, or skip, welding technique should be used for short seams
that are fixed in place. This will prevent warpage or distortion, and will
minimize residual stresses.

(5) Heavy plates should be beveled to provide an included angle of up to 60

degrees, depending on the thickness. The parts should be tack welded in
place at short intervals along the seam. The first, or root, bead should be
made with an electrode small enough in diameter to obtain good penetration
and fusion at the base of the joint. A 1/8 or 5/32 in. (3.2 or 4.0 mm)
electrode is suitable for this purpose. The first bead should be thoroughly
cleaned by chipping and wire brushing before additional layers of weld metal
are deposited. Additional passes of the filler metal should be made with a
5/32 or 3/16 in. (4.0 or 4.8 mm) electrode. The passes should be made with
a weaving motion for flat, horizontal, or vertical positions. When overhead
welding, the best results are obtained by using string beads throughout the
weld.

(6) When welding heavy sections that have been beveled from both sides, the
weave beads should be deposited alternately on one side and then the other.
This will reduce the amount of distortion in the welded structure. Each bead
should be cleaned thoroughly to remove all scale, oxides, and slag before
additional metal is deposited. The motion of the electrode should be
controlled so as to make the bead uniform in thickness and to prevent
undercutting and overlap at the edges of the weld. All slag and oxides must
be removed from the surface of the completed weld to prevent rusting.

h. Carbon-Arc Welding. Low carbon sheet and plate up to 3/4 in. (19.0 mm) in thickness
can be welded using the carbon-arc welding process. The arc is struck against the plate
edges, which are prepared in a manner similar to that required for metal-arc welding. A flux
should be used on the joint and filler metal should be added as in oxyacetylene welding. A
gaseous shield should be provided around the molten base. Filler metal, by means of a flux
coated welding rod, should also be provided. Welding must be done without overheating the
molten metal. Failure to observe these precautions can cause the weld metal to absorb an
excessive amount of carbon from the electrode and oxygen and nitrogen from the air, and
cause brittleness in the welded joint.

7-11. MEDIUM CARBON STEELS

a. General. Medium carbon steels are non-alloy steels which contain from 0.30 to 0.55
percent carbon. These steels may be heat treated after fabrication and used for general
machining and forging of parts which require surface hardness and strength. They are
manufactured in bar form and in the cold rolled or the normalized and annealed condition.
When heat treated steels are welded, they should be preheated from 300 to 500°F (149 to
260°C), depending on the carbon content (0.25 to 0.45 percent) and the thickness of the
steel. The preheating temperature may be checked by applying a stick of 50-50 solder
(melting point 450°F (232°C)) to the plate at the joint, and noting when the solder begins
to melt. During welding, the weld zone will become hardened if cooled rapidly, and must be
stress relieved after welding. Medium carbon steels may be welded with any of the arc, gas,
and resistance welding processes.

b. With higher carbon and manganese content, the low-hydrogen type electrodes should be
used, particularly in thicker sections. Electrodes of the low-carbon, heavy coated, straight or
reverse polarity type, similar to those used for metal-arc welding of low carbon steels, are
satisfactory for welding medium carbon steels.

c. Small parts should be annealed to induce softness before welding. The parts should be
preheated at the joint and welded with a filler rod that produces heat treatable welds. After
welding, the entire piece should be heat treated to restore its original properties.

d. Either a low carbon or high strength rod can be used for welding medium carbon steels.
The welding flame should be adjusted to slightly carburizing, and the puddle of metal kept
as small as possible to make a sound joint. Welding with a carburizing flame causes the
metal to heat quickly, because heat is given off when steel absorbs carbon. This permits
welding at higher speeds.

e. Care should be taken to slowly cool the parts after welding to prevent cracking of the
weld. The entire welded part should be stress relieved by heating to between 1100 and
1250°F (593 and 677°C) for one hour per inch (25.4 mm) of thickness, and then slowly
cooling. Cooling can be accomplished by covering the parts with fire resistant material or
sand.

f. Medium carbon steels can be brazed by using a preheat of 200 to 400°F (93 to 204°C), a
good bronze rod, and a brazing flux. However, these steels are better welded by the metal-
arc process with mild steel shielded arc electrodes.

g. When welding mild steels, keep the following general techniques in mind:

(1) The plates should be prepared for welding in a manner similar to that
used for welding low carbon steels. When welding with low carbon steel
electrodes, the welding heat should be carefully controlled to avoid
overheating the weld metal and excessive penetration into the side walls of
the joint. This control is accomplished by directing the electrode more toward
the previously deposited filler metal adjacent to the side walls than toward
the side walls directly. By using this procedure, the weld metal is caused to
wash up against the side of the joint and fuse with it without deep or
excessive penetration.

(2) High welding heats will cause large areas of the base metal in the fusion
zone adjacent to the welds to become hard and brittle. The area of these hard
zones in the base metal can be kept to a minimum by making the weld with a
series of small string or weave beads, which will limit the heat input. Each
bead or layer of weld metal will refine the grain in the weld immediately
 beneath it, and will anneal and lessen the hardness produced in the base
metal by the previous bead.

(3) When possible, the finished joint should be heat treated after welding.
Stress relieving is normally used when joining mild steel, and high carbon
alloys should be annealed.

(4) In welding medium carbon steels with stainless steel electrodes, the metal
should be deposited in string beads in order to prevent cracking of the weld
metal in the fusion zone. When depositing weld metal in the upper layers of
welds made on heavy sections, the weaving motion of the electrode should
not exceed three electrode diameters.

(5) Each successive bead of weld should be chipped, brushed, and cleaned
prior to the laying of another bead.

7-12. HIGH CARBON STEELS

a. General. High carbon steels include those with a carbon content exceeding 0.55 percent.
The unfinished surface of high carbon steels is dark gray and similar to other steels. High
carbon steels usually produce a very fine grained fracture, whiter than low carbon steels.
Tool steel is harder and more brittle than plate steel or other low carbon material. High
carbon steel can be hardened by heating to a good red and quenching in water. Low carbon
steel, wrought iron, and steel castings cannot be hardened. Molten high carbon steel is
brighter than low carbon steel, and the melting surface has a cellular appearance. It sparks
more freely than low carbon (mild) steel, and the sparks are whiter. These steels are used
to manufacture tools which are heat treated after fabrication to develop the hard structure
necessary to withstand high shear stress and wear. They are manufactured in bar, sheet,
and wire forms, and in the annealed or normalized and annealed condition in order to be
suitable for machining before heat treatment. The high carbon steels are difficult to weld
because of the hardening effect of heat at the welded joint. Because of the high carbon
content and the heat treatment usually given to these steels, their basic properties are
impaired by arc welding.

b. The welding heat changes the properties of high carbon steel in the vicinity of the weld.
To restore the original properties, heat treatment is necessary.

c. High carbon steels should be preheated from 500 to 800°F (260 to 427°C) before
welding. The preheating temperature can be checked with a pine stick, which will char at
these temperatures.

d. Since high carbon steels melt at lower temperatures than low and medium carbon steels,
care should be taken not to overheat the weld or base metal. Overheating is indicated by
excessive sparking of the molten metal. Welding should be completed as soon as possible
and the amount of sparking should be used as a check on the welding heat. The flame
should be adjusted to carburizing. This type of flame tends to produce sound welds.

e. Either a medium or high carbon welding rod should be used to make the weld. After
welding, the entire piece should be stress relieved by heating to between 1200 and 1450°F
(649 and 788°C) for one hour per inch (25.4 mm) of thickness, and then slowly cooling. If
the parts can easily be softened before welding, a high carbon welding rod should be used
to make the joint. The entire piece should then be heat treated to restore the original
properties of the base metal.

f. In some cases, minor repairs to these steels can be made by brazing. This process does
not require temperatures as high as those used for welding, so the properties of the base
metal are not seriously affected. Brazing should only be used in special cases, because the
strength of the joint is not as high as the original base metal.

g. Either mild or stainless steel electrodes can be used with high carbon steels.

h. Metal-arc welding in high carbon steels requires critical control of the weld heat. The
following techniques should be kept in mind:

(1) The welding heat should be adjusted to provide good fusion at the side
walls and root of the joint without excessive penetration. Control of the
welding heat can be accomplished by depositing the weld metal in small string
beads. Excessive puddling of the metal should be avoided, because this can
cause carbon to be picked up from the base metal, which in turn will make
the weld metal hard and brittle. Fusion between the filler metal and the side
walls should be confined to a narrow zone. Use the surface fusion procedure
prescribed for medium carbon steels (para 7-11).

(2) The same procedure for edge preparation, cleaning of the welds, and
sequence of welding beads as prescribed for low and medium carbon steels
also applies to high carbon steels.

(3) Small, high carbon steel parts are sometimes repaired by building up
worn surfaces. When this is done, the piece should be annealed or softened
by heating to a red heat and cooling slowly. The piece should then be welded
or built up with medium carbon or high strength electrodes, and heat treated
after welding to restore its original properties.

7-13. TOOL STEELS

a. General. Steels used for making tools, punches, and dies are perhaps the hardest,
strongest, and toughest steels used in industry. In general, tool steels are medium to high
carbon steels with specific elements included in different amounts to provide special
characteristics. A spark test shows a moderately large volume of white sparks having many
fine, repeating bursts.

b. Carbon is provided in tool steel to help harden the steel for cutting and wear resistance.
Other elements are added to provide greater toughness or strength. In some cases,
elements are added to retain the size and shape of the tool during its heat treat hardening
operation, or to make the hardening operation safer and to provide red hardness so that the
tool retains its hardness and strength when it becomes extremely hot. Iron is the
predominant element in the composition of tool steels. Other elements added include
chromium, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, and vanadium. The tool or
die steels are designed for special purposes that are dependent upon composition. Certain
tool steels are made for producing die blocks; some are made for producing molds, others
for hot working, and others for high-speed cutting application.
c. Another way to classify tool steels is according to the type of quench required to harden
the steel. The most severe quench after heating is the water quench (water-hardening
steels). A less severe quench is the oil quench, obtained by cooling the tool steel in oil baths
(oil-hardening steels). The least drastic quench is cooling in air (air-hardening steels).

d. Tool steels and dies can also be classified according to the work that is to be done by the
tool. This is based on class numbers.

(1) Class I steels are used to make tools that work by a shearing or cutting
actions, such as cutoff dies, shearing dies, blanking dies, and trimming dies.

(2) Class II steels are used to make tools that produce the desired shape of
the part by causing the material being worked, either hot or cold, to flow
under tension. This includes drawing dies, forming dies, reducing dies, forging
dies, plastic molds, and die cast molding dies.

(3) Class III steels are used to make tools that act upon the material being
worked by partially or wholly reforming it without changing the actual
dimensions. This includes bending dies, folding dies, and twisting dies.

(4) Class IV steels are used to make dies that work under heavy pressure and
that produce a flow of metal or other material caressing it into the desired
form. This includes crimping dies, embossing dies, heading dies, extrusion
dies, and staking dies.

e. Steels in the tool steels group have a carbon content ranging from 0.83 to 1.55 percent.
They are rarely welded by arc welding because of the excessive hardness produced in the
fusion zone of the base metal. If arc welding must be done, either mild steel or stainless
steel electrodes can be used.

f. Uniformly high preheating temperatures (up to 1000°F (583°C)) must be used when
welding tool steels.

g. In general, the same precautions should be taken as those required for welding high
carbon steels. The welding flare should be adjusted to carburizing to prevent the burning
out of carbon in the weld metal. The welding should be done as quickly as possible, taking
care not to overheat the molten metal. After welding, the steel should be heat treated to
restore its original properties.

h. Drill rods can be used as filler rods because their high carbon content compares closely
with that of tool steels.

i. A flux suitable for welding cast iron should be used in small quantities to protect the
puddle of high carbon steel and to remove oxides in the weld metal.

j. Welding Technique. When welding tool steels, the following techniques should be kept in
mind:

(1) If the parts to be welded are small, they should be annealed or softened
before welding. The edges should then be preheated up to 1000°F (538°C),
 depending on the carbon content and thickness of the plate. Welding should
be done with either a mild steel or high strength electrode.

(2) High carbon electrodes should not be used for welding tool steels. The
carbon picked up from the base metal by the filler metal will cause the weld
to become glass hard, whereas the mild steel weld metal can absorb
additional carbon without becoming excessively hard. The welded part should
then be heat treated to restore its original properties.

(3) When welding with stainless steel electrodes, the edge of the plate should
be preheated to prevent the formation of hard zones in the base metal. The
weld metal should be deposited in small string beads to keep the heat input
to a minimum. In general, the application procedure is the same as that
required for medium and high carbon steels.

k. There are four types of die steels that are weld repairable. These are water-hardening
dies, oil-hardening dies, air-hardening dies, and hot work tools. High-speed tools can also
be repaired.

7-14. HIGH HARDNESS ALLOY STEELS

a. General. A large number and variety of obtain high strength, high hardness, corrosion
alloy steels have been developed to resistance, and other special properties. Most of these
steels depend on a special heat treatment process in order to develop the desired
characteristic in the finished state. Alloy steels have greater strength and durability than
other carbon steels, and a given strength is secured with less material weight.

b. High hardness alloy steels include the following:

(1) Chromium alloy steels. Chromium is used as an alloying element in carbon

steels to increase hardenability, corrosion resistance, and shock resistance,
and gives high strength with little loss in ductility. Chromium in large amounts
shortens the spark stream to one half that of the same steel without
chromium, but does not affect the stream’s brightness.

(2) Nickel alloy steels. Nickel increases the toughness, strength, and ductility
of steels, and lowers the hardening temperature so that an oil quench, rather
than a water quench, is used for hardening. The nickel spark has a short,
sharply defined dash of brilliant light just before the fork.

(3) High chromium-nickel alloy (stainless) steels. These high alloy steels
cover a wide range of compositions. Their stainless, corrosion, and heat
resistant properties vary with the alloy content, and are due to the formation
of a very thin oxide film which forms on the surface of the metal. Sparks are
straw colored near the grinding wheel, and white near the end of the streak.
There is a medium volume of streaks which have a moderate number of
forked bursts.

(4) Manganese alloy steels. Manganese is used in steel to produce greater

toughness, wear resistance, easier hot rolling, and forging. An increase in
manganese content decreases the weldability of steel. Steels containing
manganese produce a spark similar to a carbon spark. A moderate increase in
manganese increases the volume of the spark stream and the intensity of the
bursts. A steel containing more than a normal amount of manganese will
produce a spark similar to a high carbon steel with a lower manganese
content.

(5) Molybdenum alloy steels. Molybdenum increases hardenability, which is

the depth of hardening possible through heat treatment. The impact fatigue
property of the steel is improved with up to 0.60 percent molybdenum. Above
0.60 percent molybdenum, the impact fatigue proper is impaired. Wear
resistance is improved with molybdenum content above about 0.75 percent.
Molybdenum is sometimes combined with chromium, tungsten, or vanadium
to obtain desired properties. Steels containing this element produce a
characteristic spark with a detached arrowhead similar to that of wrought
iron, which can be seen even in fairly strong carbon bursts. Molybdenum alloy
steels contain either nickel and/or chromium.

(6) Titanium and columbium (niobium) alloy steels. These elements are used
as additional alloying agents in low carbon content, corrosion resistant steels.
They support resistance to intergranular corrosion after the metal is subjected
to high temperatures for a prolonged period of time.

(7) Tungsten alloy steels. Tungsten, as an alloying element in tool steel,

tends to produce a fine, dense grain when used in relatively small quantities.
When used in larger quantities, from 17 to 20 percent, and in combination
with other alloys, tungsten produces a steel that retains its hardness at high
temperatures. This element is usually used in combination with chromium or
other alloying agents. In a spark test, tungsten will show a dull red color in
the spark stream near the wheel. It also shortens the spark stream and
decreases the size of or completely eliminates the carbon burst. A tungsten
steel containing about 10 percent tungsten causes short, curved, orange
spear points at the end of the carrier lines. Still lower tungsten content causes
small, white bursts to appear at the end of the spear petit. Carrier lines may
be from dull red to orange, depending on the other elements present,
providing the tungsten content is not too high.

(8) Vanadium alloy steels. Vanadium is used to help control grain size. It
tends to increase hardenability and causes marked secondary hardness, yet
resists tempering. It is added to steel during manufacture to remove oxygen.
Alloy steels containing vanadium produce sparks with detached arrowheads at
the end of the carrier line similar to those produced by molybdenum steels.

(9) Silicon alloy steels. Silicon is added to steel to obtain greater hardenability
and corrosion resistance. It is often used with manganese to obtain a strong,
tough steel.

(10) High speed tool steels. These steels are usually special alloy
compositions designed for cutting tools. The carbon content ranges from 0.70
to 0.80 percent. They are difficult to weld, except by the furnace induction
method. A spark test will show a few long, forked spades which are red near
the wheel, and straw colored near the end of the spark stream.
c. Many of these steels can be welded with a heavy coated electrode of the shielded arc
type, whose composition is similar to that of the base metal. Low carbon electrodes can also
be used with some steels. Stainless steel electrodes are effective where preheating is not
feasible or desirable. Heat treated steels should be preheated, if possible, in order to
minimize the formation of hard zones, or layers, in the base metal adjacent to the weld. The
molten metal should not be overheated, and the welding heat should be controlled by
depositing the metal in narrow string beads. In many cases, the procedures for welding
medium carbon steels (para 7-11) and high carbon steels (para 7-12) can be used in the
welding of alloy steels.

7-15. HIGH YIELD STRENGTH, LOW ALLOY STRUCTURAL STEELS

a. General. High yield strength, low alloy structural steels (constructional alloy steels) are
special steels that are tempered to obtain extreme toughness and durability. The special
alloys and general makeup of these steels require special treatment to obtain satisfactory
weldments. These steels are special, low-carbon steels containing specific, small amounts of
alloying elements. They are quenched and tempered to obtain a yield strength of 90,000 to
100,000 psi (620,550 to 689,500 kPa) and a tensile strength of 100,000 to 140,000 psi
(689,500 to 965,300 kPa), depending upon size and shape. Structural members fabricated
from these high strength steels may have smaller cross-sectional areas than common
structural steels and still have equal strength. These steels are also more corrosion and
abrasion resistant than other steels. In a spark test, these alloys produce a spark very
similar to low carbon steels.

b. Welding Technique. Reliable welding of high yield strength, low alloy structural steels can
be performed by using the following guidelines:

CAUTION

To prevent underbead cracking, only low hydrogen electrodes should be used when welding
high yield strength, low alloy structural steels.

(1) Correct electrodes. Hydrogen is the number one enemy of sound welds in
alloy steels; therefore, use only low hydrogen (MIL-E-18038 or MIL-E-
22200/1) electrodes to prevent underbead cracking. Underbead cracking is
caused by hydrogen picked up in the electrode coating, released into the arc,
and absorbed by the molten metal.

(2) Moisture control of electrodes. If the electrodes are in an airtight

container, place them, immediately upon opening the container, in a
ventilated holding oven set at 250 to 300°F (121 to 149°C). In the event that
the electrodes are not in an airtight container, put them in a ventilated baking
oven and bake for 1-1/4 hours at 800°F (427°C). Baked electrodes should,
while still warm, be placed in the holding oven until used. Electrodes must be
kept dry to eliminate absorption of hydrogen. Testing for moisture should be
in accordance with MIL-E-22200.

NOTE

Moisture stabilizer NSN 3439-00-400-0090 is an ideal holding oven for field use (MIL-M-
45558).
c. Low Hydrogen Electrode Selection. Electrodes are identified by classification numbers
which are always marked on the electrode containers. For low hydrogen coatings, the last
two nunbers of the classification should be 15, 16, or 18. Electrodes of 5/32 and 1/8 in. (4.0
and 3.2 mm) in diameter are the most commonly used, since they are more adaptable to all
types of welding of this type steel. Table 7-14 lists electrodes used to weld high yield
strength, low alloy structural steels. Table 7-15 is a list of electrodes currently established in
the Army supply system.

d. Selecting Wire-Flux and Wire-Gas Combinations. Wire electrodes for submerged arc and
gas-shielded arc welding are not classified according to strength. Welding wire and wire-flux
combinations used for steels to be stress relieved should contain no more than 0.05 recent
vanadium. Weld metal with more than 0.05 percent vanadium may brittle if stress relieved.
When using either the submerged arc or gas metal-arc welding processes to weld high yield
strength, low alloy structural steels to lower strength steels the wire-flux and wire-gas
combination should be the same as that recommended for the lower strength steels.

e. Preheating. For welding plates under 1.0 in. (25.4 mm) thick, above 50°F (10°C) is not
required except to remove surface moisture metal. Table 7-16 contains suggested
preheating temperatures.
f. Welding Heat.

(1) General. It is important to avoid excessive heat concentration in order to

allow the weld area to cool quickly. Either the heat input nomograph or the
heat input calculator can be used to determine the heat input into the weld.

(2) Heat input nomograph. To use the heat input nomograph (fig. 7-9), find
the volts value in column 1 and draw a line to the amps value in column 3.
From the point where this line intersects colunm 2, draw another line to the
in./min value in column 5. Read the heat units at the point where this second
line intersects column 4. The heat units represent thousands of joules per
inch. For example, at 20 volts and 300 amps, the line intersects column 2 at
the value 6. At 12 in./min, the heat input is determined as 30 heat units, or
30,000 joules/in.
(3) Heat input calculator. The heat input calculator can be made by copying
the pattern printed on the inside of the back cover of this manual onto plastic,
light cardboard, or other suitable material and cutting out the pieces. If no
suitable material is available, the calculator may be assembled by cutting the
pattern out of the back cover. After the two pieces are cut out, a hole is
punched in the center of each. They are then assembled using a paper
fastener, or some similar device, which will allow the pieces to rotate. To
determine welding heat input using the calculator, rotate until the value on
the volts scale is aligned directly opposite the value on the speed (in./min)
scale. The value on the amps scale will then be aligned directly opposite the
calculated value for heat units. As with the nomograph, heat units represent
thousands of joules per inch.

(4) Maximum heat input. Check the heat input value obtained from the
nomograph or calculator against the suggested maximums in tables 7-17 and
7-18. If the calculated value is too high, adjust the amperes, travel speed, or
preheat temperature until the calculated heat input is within the proper
range. (The tables are applicable only to single-arc, shielded metal-arc,
submerged arc, gas tungsten-arc, flux-cored arc, and gas metal-arc
processes. They are not applicable to multiple-arc or electroslag welding, or
other high heat input vertical-welding processes, since welds made by these
in the "T-1" steels should be heat treated by quenching and tempering.) For
 welding conditions exceeding the range of the nomograph or calculator, the
heat input can be calculated using the following formula:

g. Welding Process. Reliable welding of high yield strength, low alloy structural steel can be
per formal by choosing an electrode with low hydrogen content or selecting the proper wire-
flux or wire gas combination when using the submerged arc or gas metal arc processes. Use
a straight stringer bead whenever possible. Avoid using the weave pattern; however, if
needed, it must be restricted to a partial weave pattern. Best results are obtained by a
slight circular motion of the electrode with the weave area never exceeding two elect-rode
diameters. Never use a full weave pattern. The partial weave pattern should not exceed
twice the diameter of the electrode. Skip weld as practical. Peening of the weld is
sometimes recommended to relieve stresses while cooling larger pieces. Fillet welds should
be smooth and correctly contoured. Avoid toe cracks and undercutting. Electrodes used for
fillet welds should be of lower strength than those used for butt welding. Air-hammer
peening of fillet welds can help to prevent cracks, especially if the welds are to be stress
relieved. A soft steel wire pedestal can help to absorb shrinkage forces. Butter welding in
the toe area before actual fillet welding strengths the area where a toe crack may start. A
bead is laid in the toe area, then ground off prior to the actual fillet welding. This butter
weld bead must be located so that the toe of the fillet will be laid directly over it during
actual fillet welding. Because of the additional material involved in fillet welding, the cooling
rate is increased and heat inputs may be extended about 25 percent.

7-16. CAST IRON

a. General. A cast iron is an alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon, in which the amount of carbon
is usually more than 1.7 percent and less than 4.5 percent.

(1) The most widely used type of cast iron is known as gray iron. Gray iron
has a variety of compositions, but is usually such that it is primarily perlite
with many graphite flakes dispersed throughout.

(2) There are also alloy cast irons which contain small amounts of chromium,
nickel, molybdenum, copper, or other elements added to provide specific
properties.

(3) Another alloy iron is austenitic cast iron, which is modified by additions of
nickel and other elements to reduce the transformation temperature so that
the structure is austenitic at room or normal temperatures. Austenitic cast
irons have a high degree of corrosion resistance.

(4) In white cast iron, almost all the carbon is in the combined form. This
provides a cast iron with higher hardness, which is used for abrasion
resistance.

(5) Malleable cast iron is made by giving white cast iron a special annealing
heat treatment to change the structure of the carbon in the iron. The
structure is changed to perlitic or ferritic, which increases its ductility.

(6) Nodular iron and ductile cast iron are made by the addition of magnesium
or aluminum which will either tie up the carbon in a combined state or will
give the free carbon a spherical or nodular shape, rather than the normal
flake shape in gray cast iron. This structure provides a greater degree of
ductility or malleability of the casting.

(7) Cast irons are widely used in agricultural equipment; on machine tools as
bases, brackets, and covers; for pipe fittings and cast iron pipe; and for
automobile engine blocks, heads, manifolds, and water preps. Cast iron is
rarely used in structural work except for compression members. It is widely
used in construction machinery for counterweights and in other applications
for which weight is required.

b. Gray cast iron has low ductility and therefore will not expand or stretch to any
considerable extent before breaking or cracking. Because of this characteristic, preheating is
necessary when cast iron is welded by the oxyacetylene welding process. It can, however,
be welded with the metal-arc process without preheating if the welding heat is carefully
controlled. This can be accomplished by welding only short lengths of the joint at a time and
allowing these sections to cool. By this procedure, the heat of welding is confined to a small
area, and the danger of cracking the casting is eliminated. Large castings with complicated
sections, such as motor blocks, can be welded without dismantling or preheating. Special
electrodes designed for this purpose are usually desirable. Ductile cast irons, such as
malleable iron, ductile iron, and nodular iron, can be successfully welded. For best results,
these types of cast irons should be welded in the annealed condition.

c. Welding is used to salvage new iron castings, to repair castings that have failed in
service, and to join castings to each other or to steel parts in manufacturing operations.
Table 7-19 shows the welding processes that can be used for welding cast, malleable, and
nodular irons. The selection of the welding process and the welding filler metals depends on
the type of weld properties desired and the service life that is expected. For example, when
using the shielded metal arc welding process, different types of filler metal can be used. The
filler metal will have an effect on the color match of the weld compared to the base
material. The color match can be a determining factor, specifically in the salvage or repair of
castings, where a difference of color would not be acceptable.
d. No matter which of the welding processes is selected, certain preparatory steps should be
made. It is important to determine the exact type of cast iron to be welded, whether it is
gray cast iron or a malleable or ductile type. If exact information is not known, it is best to
assume that it is gray cast iron with little or no ductility. In general, it is not recommended
to weld repair gray iron castings that are subject to heating and cooling in normal service,
especially when heating and cooling vary over a range of temperatures exceeding 400°F
(204°C). Unless cast iron is used as the filler material, the weld metal and base metal may
have different coefficients of expansion and contraction. This will contribute to internal
stresses which cannot be withstood by gray cast iron. Repair of these types of castings can
be made, but the reliability and service life on such repairs cannot be predicted with
accuracy.

e. Preparation for Welding.

(1) In preparing the casting for welding, it is necessary to remove all surface
materials to completely clean the casting in the area of the weld. This means
removing paint, grease, oil, and other foreign material from the weld zone. It
is desirable to heat the weld area for a short time to remove entrapped gas
from the weld zone of the base metal. The skin or high silicon surface should
also be removed adjacent to the weld area on both the face and root side.
The edges of a joint should be chipped out or ground to form a 60° angle or
bevel. Where grooves are involved, a V groove from a 60-90° included angle
should be used. The V should extend approximately 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) from
the bottom of the crack. A small hole should be drilled at each end of the
crack to keep it from spreading. Complete penetration welds should always be
used, since a crack or defect not completely removed may quickly reappear
under service conditions.

(2) Preheating is desirable for welding cast irons with any of the welding
processes. It can be reduced when using extremely ductile filler metal.
 Preheating will reduce the thermal gradient between the weld and the
remainder of the cast iron. Preheat temperatures should be related to the
welding process, the filler metal type, the mass, and the complexity of the
casting. Preheating can be done by any of the normal methods. Torch heating
is normally used for relatively small castings weighing 30.0 lb (13.6 kg) or
less. Larger parts may be furnace preheated, and in some cases, temporary
furnaces are built around the part rather than taking the part to a furnace. In
this way, the parts can be maintained at a high interpass temperature in the
temporary furnace during welding. Preheating should be general, since it
helps to improve the ductility of the material and will spread shrinkage
stresses over a large area to avoid critical stresses at any one point.
Preheating tends to help soften the area adjacent to the weld; it assists in
degassing the casting, and this in turn reduces the possibility of porosity of
the deposited weld metal; and it increases welding speed.

(3) Slow cooling or post heating improves the machinability of the heat-
affected zone in the cast iron adjacent to the weld. The post cooling should be
as slow as possible. This can be done by covering the casting with insulating
materials to keep the air or breezes from it.

f. Welding Technique.

(1) Electrodes.

(a) Cast iron can be welded with a coated steel electrode, but this
method should be used as an emergency measure only. When using a
steel electrode, the contraction of the steel weld metal, the carbon
picked up from the cast iron by the weld metal, and the hardness of
the weld metal caused by rapid cooling must be considered. Steel
shrinks more than cast iron when ceded from a molten to a solid state.
When a steel electrode is used, this uneven shrinkage will cause
strains at the joint after welding. When a large quantity of filler metal
is applied to the joint, the cast iron may crack just back of the line of
fusion unless preventive steps are taken. To overcome these
difficulties, the prepared joint should be welded by depositing the weld
metal in short string beads, 0.75 to 1.0 in. long (19.0 to 25.4 mm).
These are made intermittently and, in some cases, by the backstep
and skip procedure. To avoid hard spots, the arc should be struck in
the V, and not on the surface of the base metal. Each short length of
weld metal applied to the joint should be lightly peened while hot with
a small ball peen hammer, and allowed to cool before additional weld
metal is applied. The peening action forges the metal and relieves the
cooling strains.

(b) The electrodes used should be 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) in diameter to
prevent excessive welding heat. Welding should be done with reverse
polarity. Weaving of the electrode should be held to a minimum. Each
weld metal deposit should be thoroughly cleaned before additional
metal is added.

(c) Cast iron electrodes must be used where subsequent machining of

the welded joint is required. Stainless steel electrodes are used when
 machining of the weld is not required. The procedure for making welds
with these electrodes is the same as that outlined for welding with
mild steel electrodes. Stainless steel electrodes provide excellent
fusion between the filler and base metals. Great care must be taken to
avoid cracking in the weld, contracts approximately 50 percent more
than because stainless steel expands and mild steel in equal changes
of temperature.

(2) Arc Welding.

(a) The shielded metal arc welding process can be utilized for welding
cast iron. There are four types of filler metals that may be used: cast
iron covered electrodes; covered copper base alloy electrodes; covered
nickel base alloy electrodes; and mild steel covered electrodes. There
are reasons for using each of the different specific types of electrodes,
which include the machinability of the deposit, the color match of the
deposit, the strength of the deposit, and the ductility of the final weld.

(b) When arc welding with the cast iron electrodes (ECI), preheat to
between 250 and 800°F (121 and 425°C), depending on the size and
complexity of the casting and the need to machine the deposit and
adjacent areas. The higher degree of heating, the easier it will be to
machine the weld deposit. In general, it is best to use small-size
electrodes and a relatively 1ow current setting. A medium arc length
should be used, and, if at all possible, welding should be done in the
flat position. Wandering or skip welding procedure should be used, and
peening will help reduce stresses and will minimize distortion. Slow
cooling after welding is recommended. These electrodes provide an
excellent color match cm gray iron. The strength of the weld will equal
the strength of the base metal. There are two types of copper-base
electrodes: the copper tin alloy and the copper aluminum types. The
copper zinc alloys cannot be used for arc welding electrodes because
of the low boiling temperature of zinc. Zinc will volatilize in the arc and
will cause weld metal porosity.

(c) When the copper base electrodes are used, a preheat of 250 to
400°F (121 to 204°C) is recommended. Small electrodes and low
current should be used. The arc should be directed against the
deposited metal or puddle to avoid penetration and mixing the base
metal with the weld metal. Slow cooling is recommended after
welding. The copper-base electrodes do not provide a good color
match.

(d) There are three types of nickel electrodes used for welding cast
iron. These electrodes can be used without preheat; however, heating
to 100°F (38°C) is recommended. These electrodes can be used in all
positions; however, the flat position is recommended. The welding slag
should be removed between passes. The nickel and nickel iron
deposits are extremely ductile and will not become brittle with the
carbon pickup. The hardness of the heat-affected zone can be
minimized by reducing penetration into the cast iron base metal. The
technique mentioned above, playing the arc on the puddle rather than
 on the base metal, will help minimize dilution. Slow cooling and, if
necessary, postheating will improve machinability of the heat-affected
zone. The nickel-base electrodes do not provide a close color match.

(e) Copper nickel type electrodes cane in two grades. Either of these
electrodes can be used in the same manner as the nickel or nickel iron
electrode with about the same technique and results. The deposits of
these electrodes do not provide a color match.

(f) Mild steel electrodes are not recommended for welding cast iron if
the deposit is to be machined. The mild steel deposit will pick up
sufficient carbon to make a high-carbon deposit, which is impossible to
machine. Additionally, the mild steel deposit will have a reduced level
of ductility as a result of increased carbon content. This type of
electrode should be used only for small repairs and should not be used
when machining is required. Minimum preheat is possible for small
repair jobs. Small electrodes at low current are recommended to
minimize dilution and to avoid the concentration of shrinkage stresses.
Short welds using a wandering sequence should be used, and the weld
should be peened as quickly as possible after welding. The mild steel
electrode deposit provides a fair color match.

(3) Carbon-arc welding of cast iron. Iron castings may be welded with a
carbon arc, a cast iron rod, and a cast iron welding flux. The joint should be
preheated by moving the carbon electrodes along the surface. This prevents
too-rapid cooling after welding. The molten puddle of metal can be worked
with the carbon electrode so as to move any slag or oxides that are formed to
the surface. Welds made with the carbon arc cool more slowly and are not as
hard as those made with the metal arc and a cast iron electrode. The welds
are machinable.

(4) Oxyfuel gas welding. The oxyfuel gas process is often used for welding
cast iron. Most of the fuel gases can be used. The flame should be neutral to
slightly reducing. Flux should be used. Two types of filler metals are
available: the cast iron rods and the copper zinc rods. Welds made with the
proper cast iron electrode will be as strong as the base metal. Good color
match is provided by all of these welding reds. The optimum welding
procedure should be used with regard to joint preparation, preheat, and post
heat. The copper zinc rods produce braze welds. There are two classifications:
a manganese bronze and a low-fuming bronze. The deposited bronze has
relatively high ductility but will not provide a color match.

(5) Brazing and braze welding.

(a) Brazing is used for joining cast iron to cast iron and steels. In
these cases, the joint design must be selected for brazing so that
capillary attraction causes the filler metal to flow between closely
fitting parts. The torch method is normally used. In addition, the
carbon arc, the twin carbon arc, the gas tungsten arc, and the plasma
arc can all be used as sources of heat. Two brazing filler metal alloys
are normally used; both are copper zinc alloys. Braze welding can also
be used to join cast iron. In braze welding, the filler metal is not drawn
 into the joint by capillary attraction. This is sometimes called bronze
welding. The filler material having a liquidous above 850°F (454°C)
should be used. Braze welding will not provide a color match.

(b) Braze welding can also be accomplished by the shielded metal arc
and the gas metal arc welding processes. High temperature preheating
is not usually required for braze welding unless the part is extremely
heavy or complex in geometry. The bronze weld metal deposit has
extremely high ductility, which compensates for the lack of ductility of
the cast iron. The heat of the arc is sufficient to bring the surface of
the cast iron up to a temperature at which the copper base filler metal
alloy will make a bond to the cast iron. Since there is little or no
intermixing of the materials, the zone adjacent to the weld in the base
metal is not appreciably hardened. The weld and adjacent area are
machinable after the weld is completed. In general, a 200°F (93°C)
preheat is sufficient for most application. The cooling rate is not
extremely critical and a stress relief heat treatment is not usually
required. This type of welding is commonly used for repair welding of
automotive parts, agricultural implement parts, and even automotive
engine blocks and heads. It can only be used when the absence of
color match is not objectionable.

(6) Gas metal arc welding. The gas metal arc welding process can be used for
making welds between malleable iron and carbon steels. Several types of
electrode wires can be used, including:

(a) Mild steel using 75% argon + 25% CO2 for shielding.

(b) Nickel copper using 100% argon for shielding.

(c) Silicon bronze using 50% argon + 50% helium for shielding.

In all cases, small diameter electrode wire should be used at low current.
With the mild steel electrode wire, the Argon-CO2 shielding gas mixture issued
to minimize penetration. In the case of the nickel base filler metal and the
Copper base filler metal, the deposited filler metal is extremely ductile. The
mild steel provides a fair color match. A higher preheat is usually required to
reduce residual stresses and cracking tendencies.

(7) Flux-cored arc welding. This process has recently been used for welding
cast irons. The more successful application has been using a nickel base flux-
cored wire. This electrode wire is normally operated with CO2 shielding gas,
but when lower mechanical properties are not objectionable, it can be
operated without external shielding gas. The minimum preheat temperatures
can be used. The technique should minimize penetration into the cast iron
base metal. Postheating is normally not required. A color match is not
obtained.

(8) Studding. Cracks in large castings are sometimes repaired by studding

(fig. 7-10). In this process, the fracture is removed by grinding a V groove.
Holes are drilled and tapped at an angle on each side of the groove, and studs
are screwed into these holes for a distance equal to the diameter of the studs,
 with the upper ends projecting approximately 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) above the
cast iron surface. The studs should be seal welded in place by one or two
beads around each stud, and then tied together by weld metal beads. Welds
should be made in short lengths, and each length peened while hot to prevent
high stresses or cracking upon cooling. Each bead should be allowed to cool
and be thoroughly cleaned before additional metal is deposited. If the
studding method cannot be applied, the edges of the joint should be chipped
out or machined with a round-nosed tool to form a U groove into which the
weld metal should be deposited.

(9) Other welding processes can be used for cast iron. Thermit welding has
been used for repairing certain types of cast iron machine tool parts.
Soldering can be used for joining cast iron, and is sometimes used for
repairing small defects in small castings. Flash welding can also be used for
welding cast iron.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND WELDABILITY OF NONFERROUS

METALS

7-17. ALUMINUM WELDING

a. General. Aluminum is a lightweight, soft, low strength metal which can easily be cast,
forged, machined, formed and welded. Unless alloyed with specific elements, it is suitable
only in low temperature applications. Aluminum is light gray to silver in color, very bright
when polished, and dull when oxidized. A fracture in aluminum sections shows a smooth,
bright structure. Aluminum gives off no sparks in a spark test, and does not show red prior
to melting. A heavy film of white oxide forms instantly on the molten surface. Its
combination of light weight and high strength make aluminum the second most popular
metal that is welded. Aluminum and aluminum alloys can be satisfactorily welded by metal-
arc, carbon-arc, and other arc welding processes. The principal advantage of using arc
welding processes is that a highly concentrated heating zone is obtained with the arc. For
this reason, excessive expansion and distortion of the metal are prevented.

b. Alloys. Many alloys of aluminum have been developed. It is important to know which
alloy is to be welded. A system of four-digit numbers has been developed by the Aluminum
Association, Inc., to designate the various wrought aluminum alloy types. This system of
alloy groups, shown by table 7-20, is as follows:
 (1) 1XXX series. These are aluminums of 99 percent or higher purity which are used
primarily in the electrical and chemical industries.

(2) 2XXX series. Copper is the principal alloy in this group, which provides extremely
high strength when properly heat treated. These alloys do not produce as good
corrosion resistance and are often clad with pure aluminum or special-alloy
aluminum. These alloys are used in the aircraft industry.

(3) 3XXX series. Manganese is the major alloying element in this group, which is
non-heat-treatable. Manganese content is limited to about 1.5 percent. These alloys
have moderate strength and are easily worked.

(4) 4XXX series. Silicon is the major alloying element in this group. It can be added
in sufficient quantities to substantially reduce the melting point and is used for
brazing alloys and welding electrodes. Most of the alloys in this group are non-heat-
treatable.

(5) 5XXX series. Magnesium is the major alloying element of this group, which are
alloys of medium strength. They possess good welding characteristics and good
resistance to corrosion, but the amount of cold work should be limited.

(6) 6XXX series. Alloys in this group contain silicon and magnesium, which make
them heat treatable. These alloys possess medium strength and good corrosion
resistance.

(7) 7XXX series. Zinc is the major alloying element in this group. Magnesium is also
included in most of these alloys. Together, they form a heat-treatable alloy of very
high strength, which is used for aircraft frames.

c. Welding Aluminum Alloys. Aluminum possesses a number of properties that make welding
it different than the welding of steels. These are: aluminum oxide surface coating; high
thermal conductivity; high thermal expansion coefficient; low melting temperature; and the
absence of color change as temperature approaches the melting point. The normal
metallurgical factors that apply to other metals apply to aluminum as well.

(1) Aluminum is an active metal which reacts with oxygen in the air to produce a
hard, thin film of aluminum oxide on the surface. The melting point of aluminum
oxide is approximately 3600°F (1982°C) which is almost three times the melting
point of pure aluminum (1220°F (660°C)). In addition, this aluminum oxide film
absorbs moisture from the air, particularly as it becomes thicker. Moisture is a
 source of hydrogen, which causes porosity in aluminum welds. Hydrogen may also
come from oil, paint, and dirt in the weld area. It also comes from the oxide and
foreign materials on the electrode or filler wire, as well as from the base metal.
Hydrogen will enter the weld pool and is soluble in molten aluminum. As the
aluminum solidifies, it will retain much less hydrogen. The hydrogen is rejected
during solidification. With a rapid cooling rate, free hydrogen is retained within the
weld and will cause porosity. Porosity will decrease weld strength and ductility,
depending on the amount.

CAUTION

Aluminum and aluminum alloys should not be cleaned with caustic soda or cleaners with a
pH above 10, as they may react chemically.

(a) The aluminum oxide film must be removed prior to welding. If it is not
completely removed, small particles of unmelted oxide will be trapped in the
weld pool and will cause a reduction in ductility, lack of fusion, and possibly
weld cracking.

(b) The aluminum oxide can be removed by mechanical, chemical, or

electrical means. Mechanical removal involves scraping with a sharp tool,
sandpaper, wire brush (stainless steel), filing, or any other mechanical
method. Chemical removal can be done in two ways. One is by use of
cleaning solutions, either the etching types or the nonetching types. The
nonetching types should be used only when starting with relatively clean
parts, and are used in conjunction with other solvent cleaners. For better
cleaning, the etching type solutions are recommended, but must be used with
care. When dipping is employed, hot and cold rinsing is highly recommended.
The etching type solutions are alkaline solutions. The time in the solution
must be controlled so that too much etching does not occur.

(c) Chemical cleaning includes the use of welding fluxes. Fluxes are used for
gas welding, brazing, and soldering. The coating on covered aluminum
electrodes also maintains fluxes for cleaning the base metal. Whenever etch
cleaning or flux cleaning is used, the flux and alkaline etching materials must
be completely removed from the weld area to avoid future corrosion.

(d) The electrical oxide removal system uses cathodic bombardment.

Cathodic bombardment occurs during the half cycle of alternating current gas
tungsten arc welding when the electrode is positive (reverse polarity). This is
an electrical phenomenon that actually blasts away the oxide coating to
produce a clean surface. This is one of the reasons why AC gas tungsten arc
welding is so popular for welding aluminum.

(e) Since aluminum is so active chemically, the oxide film will immediately
start to reform. The time of buildup is not extremely fast, but welds should be
made after aluminum is cleaned within at least 8 hours for quality welding. If
a longer time period occurs, the quality of the weld will decrease.

(2) Aluminum has a high thermal conductivity and low melting temperature. It
conducts heat three to five times as fast as steel, depending on the specific alloy.
More heat must be put into the aluminum, even though the melting temperature of
 aluminum is less than half that of steel. Because of the high thermal conductivity,
preheat is often used for welding thicker sections. If the temperature is too high or
the time period is too long, weld joint strength in both heat-treated and work-
hardened alloys may be diminished. The preheat for aluminum should not exceed
400°F (204°C), and the parts should not be held at that temperature longer than
necessary. Because of the high heat conductivity, procedures should utilize higher
speed welding processes using high heat input. Both the gas tungsten arc and the
gas metal arc processes supply this requirement. The high heat conductivity of
aluminum can be helpful, since the weld will solidify very quickly if heat is conducted
away from the weld extremely fast. Along with surface tension, this helps hold the
weld metal in position and makes all-position welding with gas tungsten arc and gas
metal arc welding practical.

(3) The thermal expansion of aluminum is twice that of steel. In addition, aluminum
welds decrease about 6 percent in volume when solidifying from the molten state.
This change in dimension may cause distortion and cracking.

(4) The final reason aluminum is different from steels when welding is that it does
not exhibit color as it approaches its melting temperature until it is raised above the
melting point, at which time it will glow a dull red. When soldering or brazing
aluminum with a torch, flux is used. The flux will melt as the temperature of the base
metal approaches the temperature required. The flux dries out first, and melts as the
base metal reaches the correct working temperature. When torch welding with
oxyacetylene or oxyhydrogen, the surface of the base metal will melt first and
assume a characteristic wet and shiny appearance. (This aids in knowing when
welding temperatures are reached.) When welding with gas tungsten arc or gas
metal arc, color is not as important, because the weld is completed before the
adjoining area melts.

d. Metal-Arc Welding of Aluminum.

(1) Plate welding. Because of the difficulty of controlling the arc, butt and fillet welds
are difficult to produce in plates less than 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) thick. When welding plate
heavier than 1/8 in. (3.2 mm), a joint prepared with a 20 degree bevel will have
strength equal to a weld made by the oxyacetylene process. This weld may be
porous and unsuitable for liquid-or gas-tight joints. Metal-arc welding is, however,
particularly suitable for heavy material and is used on plates up to 2-1/2 in. (63.5
mm) thick.

(2) Current and polarity settings. The current and polarity settings will vary with
each manufacturer's type of electrodes. The polarity to be used should be
determined by trial on the joints to be made.

(3) Plate edge preparation. In general, the design of welded joints for aluminum is
quite consistent with that for steel joints. However, because of the higher fluidity of
aluminum under the welding arc, some important general principles should be kept
in mind. With the lighter gauges of aluminum sheet, less groove spacing is
advantageous when weld dilution is not a factor. The controlling factor is joint
preparation. A specially designed V groove that is applicable to aluminum is shown in
A, figure 7-11. This type of joint is excellent where welding can be done from one
side only and where a smooth, penetrating bead is desired. The effectiveness of this
particular design depends upon surface tension, and should be applied on all material
 over 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) thick. The bottom of the special V groove must be wide
enough to contain the root pass completely. This requires adding a relatively large
amount of filler alloy to fill the groove. Excellent control of the penetration and sound
root pass welds are obtained. This edge preparation can be employed for welding in
all positions. It eliminates difficulties due to burn-through or over-penetration in the
overheat and horizontal welding positions. It is applicable to all weldable base alloys
and all filler alloys.

e. Gas Metal-Arc (MIG) Welding (GMAW).

(1) General. This fast, adaptable process is used with direct current re-verse polarity
and an inert gas to weld heavier thicknesses of aluminum alloys, in any position,
from 1/016 in. (1.6 mm) to several inches thick. TM 5-3431-211-15 describes the
operation of a typical MIG welding set.

(2) Shielding gas. Precautions should be taken to ensure the gas shield is extremely
efficient. Welding grade argon, helium, or a mixture of these gases is used for
aluminum welding. Argon produces a smother and more stable arc than helium. At a
specific current and arc length, helium provides deeper penetration and a hotter arc
than argon. Arc voltage is higher with helium, and a given change in arc length
results in a greater change in arc voltage. The bead profile and penetration pattern
of aluminum welds made with argon and helium differ. With argon, the bead profile
is narrower and more convex than helium. The penetration pattern shows a deep
central section. Helium results in a flatter, wider bead, and has a broader under-bead
penetration pattern. A mixture of approximately 75 percent helium and 25 percent
argon provides the advantages of both shielding gases with none of the undesirable
characteristics of either. Penetration pattern and bead contour show the
characteristics of both gases. Arc stability is comparable to argon. The angle of the
gun or torch is more critical when welding aluminum with inert shielding gas. A 30°
leading travel angle is recommended. The electrode wire tip should be oversize for
aluminum. Table 7-21 provides welding procedure schedules for gas metal-arc
welding of aluminum.
(3) Welding technique. The electrode wire must be clean. The arc is struck with the
electrode wire protruding about 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) from the cup. A frequently used
technique is to strike the arc approximately 1.0 in. (25.4 mm) ahead of the
beginning of the weld and then quickly bring the arc to the weld starting point,
reverse the direction of travel, and proceed with normal welding. Alternatively, the
arc may be struck outside the weld groove on a starting tab. When finishing or
terminating the weld, a similar practice may be followed by reversing the direction of
welding, and simultaneously increasing the speed of welding to taper the width of
the molten pool prior to breaking the arc. This helps to avert craters and crater
cracking. Runoff tabs are commonly used. Having established the arc, the welder
moves the electrode along the joint while maintaining a 70 to 85 degree forehand
angle relative to the work. A string bead technique is normally preferred. Care should
be taken that the forehand angle is not changed or increased as the end of the weld
is approached. Arc travel speed controls the bead size. When welding aluminum with
this process, it is must important that high travel speeds be maintained. When
welding uniform thicknesses, the electrode to work angle should be equal on both
sides of the weld. When welding in the horizontal position, best results are obtained
by pointing the gun slightly upward. When welding thick plates to thin plates, it is
helpful to direct the arc toward the heavier section. A slight backhand angle is
sometimes helpful when welding thin sections to thick sections. The root pass of a
joint usually requires a short arc to provide the desired penetration. Slightly longer
arcs and higher arc voltages may be used on subsequent passes.

The wire feeding equipment for aluminum welding must be in good adjustment for
efficient wire feeding. Use nylon type liners in cable assemblies. Proper drive rolls
must be selected for the aluminum wire and for the size of the electrode wire. It is
more difficult to push extremely small diameter aluminum wires through long gun
cable assemblies than steel wires. For this reason, the spool gun or the newly
developed guns which contain a linear feed motor are used for the small diameter
electrode wires. Water-cooled guns are required except for low-current welding. Both
the constant current (CC) power source with matching voltage sensing wire feeder
and the constant voltage (CV) power source with constant speed wire feeder are
used for welding aluminum. In addition, the constant speed wire feeder is sometimes
used with the constant current power source. In general, the CV system is preferred
when welding on thin material and using all diameter electrode wire. It provides
better arc starting and regulation. The CC system is preferred when welding thick
material using larger electrode wires. The weld quality seems better with this
system. The constant current power source with a moderate drop of 15 to 20 volts
per 100 amperes and a constant speed wire feeder provide the most stable power
input to the weld and the highest weld quality.

(4) Joint design. Edges may be prepared for welding by sawing, machining, rotary
planing, routing or arc cutting. Acceptable joint designs are shown in figure 7-12.
f. Gas Tungsten-Arc (TIG) Welding (GTAW).

(1) The gas tungsten arc welding process is used for welding the thinner sections of
aluminum and aluminum alloys. There are several precautions that should be
mentioned with respect to using this process.

(a) Alternating current is recommended for general-purpose work since it

provides the half-cycle of cleaning action. Table 7-22 provides welding
procedure schedules for using the process on different thicknesses to produce
different welds. AC welding, usually with high frequency, is widely used with
manual and automatic applications. Procedures should be followed closely and
special attention given to the type of tungsten electrode, size of welding
nozzle, gas type, and gas flow rates. When manual welding, the arc length
should be kept short and equal to the diameter of the electrode. The tungsten
electrode should not protrude too far beyond the end of the nozzle. The
tungsten electrode should be kept clean. If it does accidentally touch the
molten metal, it must be redressed.
(b) Welding power sources designed for the gas tungsten arc welding process
should be used. The newer equipment provides for programming, pre-and
post-flow of shielding gas, and pulsing.

(c) For automatic or machine welding, direct current electrode negative

(straight polarity) can be used. Cleaning must be extremely efficient, since
there is no cathodic bombardment to assist. When dc electrode negative is
used, extremely deep penetration and high speeds can be obtained. Table 7-
23 lists welding procedure schedules for dc electrode negative welding.
 (d) The shielding gases are argon, helium, or a mixture of the two. Argon is
used at a lower flow rate. Helium increases penetration, but a higher flow rate
is required. When filler wire is used, it must be clean. Oxide not removed
from the filler wire may include moisture that will produce polarity in the weld
deposit.

(2) Alternating current.

(a) Characteristics of process. The welding of aluminum by the gas tungsten-

arc welding process using alternating current produces an oxide cleaning
action. Argon shielding gas is used. Better results are obtained when welding
aluminum with alternating current by using equipment designed to produce a
balanced wave or equal current in both directions. Unbalance will result in
loss of power and a reduction in the cleaning action of the arc. Characteristics
of a stable arc are the absence of snapping or cracking, smooth arc starting,
and attraction of added filler metal to the weld puddle rather than a tendency
to repulsion. A stable arc results in fewer tungsten inclusions.

(b) Welding technique. For manual welding of aluminum with ac, the
electrode holder is held in one hand and filler rod, if used, in the other. An
initial arc is struck on a starting block to heat the electrode. The arc is then
broken and reignited in the joint. This technique reduces the tendency for
tungsten inclusions at the start of the weld. The arc is held at the starting
point until the metal liquefies and a weld pool is established. The
establishment and maintenance of a suitable weld pool is important, and
welding must not proceed ahead of the puddle. If filler metal is required, it
may be added to the front or leading edge of the pool but to one side of the
center line. Both hands are moved in unison with a slight backward and
forward motion along the joint. The tungsten electrode should not touch the
filler rod. The hot end of the filler rod should not be withdrawn from the argon
shield. A short arc length must be maintained to obtain sufficient penetration
and avoid undercutting, excessive width of the weld bead, and consequent
loss of penetration control and weld contour. One rule is to use an arc length
approximately equal to the diameter of the tungsten electrode. When the arc
is broken, shrinkage cracks may occur in the weld crater, resulting in a
defective weld. This defect can be prevented by gradually lengthening the arc
while adding filler metal to the crater. Then, quickly break and restrike the arc
several times while adding additional filler metal to the crater, or use a foot
control to reduce the current at the end of the weld. Tacking before welding is
helpful in controlling distortion. Tack welds should be of ample size and
strength and should be chipped out or tapered at the ends before welding
over.

(c) Joint design. The joint designs shown in figure 7-11 are applicable to the
gas tungsten-arc welding process with minor exceptions. Inexperienced
welders who cannot maintain a very short arc may require a wider edge
preparation, included angle, or joint spacing. Joints may be fused with this
process without the addition of filler metal if the base metal alloy also makes
a satisfactory filler alloy. Edge and corner welds are rapidly made without
addition of filler metal and have a good appearance, but a very close fit is
essential.
 (3) Direct current straight polarity.

(a) Charcteristics of process. This process, using helium and thoriated

tungsten electrodes is advantageous for many automatic welding
operations, especially in the welding of heavy sections. Since there is
less tendency to heat the electrode, smaller electrodes can be used for
a given welding current. This will contribute to keeping the weld bead
narrow. The use of direct current straight polarity (dcsp) provides a
greater heat input than can be obtained with ac current. Greater heat
is developed in the weld pool, which is consequently deeper and
narrower.

(b) Welding techniques. A high frequency current should be used to

initiate the arc. Touch starting will contaminate the tungsten electrode.
It is not necessary to form a puddle as in ac welding, since melting
occurs the instant the arc is struck. Care should be taken to strike the
arc within the weld area to prevent undesirable marking of the
material. Standard techniques such as runoff tabs and foot operated
heat controls are used. These are helpful in preventing or filling
craters, for adjusting the current as the work heats, and to adjust for a
change in section thickness. In dcsp welding, the torch is moved
steadily forward. The filler wire is fed evenly into the leading edge of
the weld puddle, or laid on the joint and melted as the arc roves
forward. In all cases, the crater should be filled to a point above the
weld bead to eliminate crater cracks. The fillet size can be controlled
by varying filler wire size. DCSP is adaptable to repair work. Preheat is
not required even for heavy sections, and the heat affected zone will
be smaller with less distortion.

(c) Joint designs. The joint designs shown in figure 7-11 are applicable
to the automatic gas tungsten-arc dcsp welding process with minor
exceptions. For manual dcsp, the concentrated heat of the arc gives
excellent root fusion. Root face can be thicker, grooves narrower, and
build up can be easily controlled by varying filler wire size and travel
speed.

g. Square Wave Alternating Current Welding (TIG).

(1) General. Square wave gas tungsten-arc welding with alternating current
differs frozen conventional balanced wave gas tungsten-arc welding in the
type of wave from used. With a square wave, the time of current flow in
either direction is adjustable from 20 to 1. In square wave gas tungsten-arc
welding, there are the advantages of surface cleaning produced by positive
ionic bombardment during the reversed polarity cycle, along with greater weld
depth to width ratio produced by the straight polarity cycle. Sufficient
aluminum surface cleaning action has been obtained with a setting of
approximately 10 percent dcrp. Penetration equal to regular dcsp welding can
be obtained with 90 percent dcsp current.

(2) Welding technique. It is necessary to have either superimposed high

frequency or high open circuit voltage, because the arc is extinguished every
half cycle as the current decays toward zero, and must be restarted each tire.
 Precision shaped thoriated tungsten electrodes should be used with this
process. Argon, helium, or a combination of the two should be used as
shielding gas, depending on the application to be used.

(3) Joint design. Square wave alternating current welding offers substantial
savings over conventional alternating current balanced wave gas tungsten arc
welding in weld joint preparation. Smaller V grooves, U grooves, and a thicker
root face can be used. A greater depth to width weld ratio is conducive to less
weldment distortion, along with favorable welding residual stress distribution
and less use of filler wire. With Some slight modification, the same joint
designs can be used as in dcsp gas tungsten-arc welding (fig. 7-11).

h. Shielded Metal-Arc Welding. In the shielded metal-arc welding process, a heavy

dipped or extruded flux coated electrode is used with dcrp. The electrodes are
covered similarly to conventional steel electrodes. The flux coating provides a
gaseous shield around the arc and molten aluminum puddle, and chemically
combines and removes the aluminum oxide, forming a slag. When welding
aluminum, the process is rather limited due to arc spatter, erratic arc control,
limitations on thin material, and the corrosive action of the flux if it is not removed
properly.

i. Shielded Carbon-Arc Welding. The shielded carbon-arc welding process can be

used in joining aluminum. It requires flux and produces welds of the same
appearance, soundness, and structure as those produced by either oxyacetylene or
oxyhydrogen welding. Shielded carbon-arc welding is done both manually and
automatically. A carbon arc is used as a source of heat while filler metal is supplied
from a separate filler rod. Flux must be removed after welding; otherwise severe
corrosion will result. Manual shielded carbon-arc welding is usually limited to a
thickness of less than 3/8 in. (9.5 mm), accomplished by the same method used for
manual carbon arc welding of other material. Joint preparation is similar to that used
for gas welding. A flux covered rod is used.

j. Atomic Hydrogen Welding. This welding process consists of maintaining an arc

between two tungsten electrodes in an atmosphere of hydrogen gas. The process can
be either manual or automatic with procedures and techniques closely related to
those used in oxyacetylene welding. Since the hydrogen shield surrounding the base
metal excludes oxygen, smaller amounts of flux are required to combine or remove
aluminum oxide. Visibility is increased, there are fewer flux inclusions, and a very
sound metal is deposited.

k. Stud Welding.

(1) Aluminum stud welding may be accomplished with conventional arc stud
welding equipment, using either the capacitor discharge or drawn arc
capacitor discharge techniques. The conventional arc stud welding process
may be used to weld aluminum studs 3/16 to 3/4 in. (4.7 to 19.0 mm)
diameter. The aluminum stud welding gun is modified slightly by the addition
of a special adapter for the control of the high purity shielding gases used
during the welding cycle. An added accessory control for controlling the
plunging of the stud at the completion of the weld cycle adds materially to the
quality of weld and reduces spatter loss. Reverse polarity is used, with the
electrode gun positive and the workpiece negative. A small cylindrical or cone
 shaped projection on the end of the aluminum stud initiates the arc and helps
establish the longer arc length required for aluminum welding.

(2) The unshielded capacitor discharge or drawn arc capacitor discharge stud
welding processes are used with aluminum studs 1/16 to 1/4 in. (1.6 to 6.4
mm) diameter. Capacitor discharge welding uses a low voltage electrostatic
storage system, in which the weld energy is stored at a low voltage in
capacitors with high capacitance as a power source. In the capacitor
discharge stud welding process, a small tip or projection on the end of the
stud is used for arc initiation. The drawn arc capacitor discharge stud welding
process uses a stud with a pointed or slightly rounded end. It does not require
a serrated tip or projection on the end of the stud for arc initiation. In both
cases, the weld cycle is similar to the conventional stud welding process.
However, use of the projection on the base of the stud provides the most
consistent welding. The short arcing time of the capacitor discharge process
limits the melting so that shallow penetration of the workpiece results. The
minimum aluminum work thickness considered practical is 0.032 in. (0.800
mm).

l. Electron Beam Welding. Electron beam welding is a fusion joining process in which
the workpiece is bombarded with a dense stream of high velocity electrons, and
virtually all of the kinetic energy of the electrons is transformed into heat upon
impact. Electron beam welding usually takes place in an evacuated chamber. The
chamber size is the limiting factor on the weldment size. Conventional arc and gas
heating melt little more than the surface. Further penetration comes solely by
conduction of heat in all directions from this molten surface spot. The fusion zone
widens as it depends. The electron beam is capable of such intense local heating that
it almost instantly vaporizes a hole through the entire joint thickness. The walls of
this hole are molten, and as the hole is moved along the joint, more metal on the
advancing side of the hole is melted. This flaws around the bore of the hole and
solidifies along the rear side of the hole to make the weld. The intensity of the beam
can be diminished to give a partial penetration with the same narrow configuration.
Electron beam welding is generally applicable to edge, butt, fillet, melt-thru lap, and
spot welds. Filler metal is rarely used except for surfacing.

m. Resistance Welding.

(1) General. The resistance welding processes (spot, seam, and flash welding)
are important in fabricating aluminum alloys. These processes are especially
useful in joining the high strength heat treatable alloys, which are difficult to
join by fusion welding, but can be joined by the resistance welding process
with practically no loss in strength. The natural oxide coating on aluminum
has a rather high and erratic electrical resistance. To obtain spot or seam
welds of the highest strength and consistency, it is usually necessary to
reduce this oxide coating prior to welding.

(2) Spot welding. Welds of uniformly high strength and good appearance
depend upon a consistently low surface resistance between the workplaces.
For most applications, some cleaning operations are necessary before spot or
seam welding aluminum. Surface preparation for welding generally consists of
removal of grease, oil, dirt, or identification markings, and reduction and
improvement of consistency of the oxide film on the aluminum surface.
 Satisfactory performance of spot welds in service depends to a great extent
upon joint design. Spot welds should always be designed to carry shear loads.
However, when tension or combined loadings may be expected, special tests
should be conducted to determine the actual strength of the joint under
service loading. The strength of spot welds in direct tension may vary from 20
to 90 percent of the shear strength.

(3) Seam welding. Seam welding of aluminum and its alloys is very similar to
spot welding, except that the electrodes are replaced by wheels. The spots
made by a seam welding machine can be overlapped to form a gas or liquid
tight joint. By adjusting the timing, the seam welding machine can produce
uniformly spaced spot welds equal in quality to those produced on a regular
spot welding machine, and at a faster rate. This procedure is called roll spot
or intermittent seam welding.

(4) Flash welding. All aluminum alloys may be joined by the flash welding
process. This process is particularly adapted to making butt or miter joints
between two parts of similar cross section. It has been adapted to joining
aluminum to copper in the form of bars and tubing. The joints so produced
fail outside of the weld area when tension loads are applied.

n. Gas welding. Gas welding has been done on aluminum using both oxyacetylene
and oxyhydrogen flames. In either case, an absolutely neutral flame is required. Flux
is used as well as a filler rod. The process also is not too popular because of low heat
input and the need to remove flux.

o. Electroslag welding. Electroslag welding is used for joining pure aluminum, but is
not successful for welding the aluminum alloys. Submerged arc welding has been
used in some countries where inert gas is not available.

p. Other processes. Most of the solid state welding processes, including friction
welding, ultrasonic welding, and cold welding are used for aluminums. Aluminum can
also be joined by soldering and brazing. Brazing can be accomplished by most
brazing methods. A high silicon alloy filler material is used.

7-18. BRASS AND BRONZE WELDING

a. General. Brass and bronze are alloys of copper. Brass has zinc, and bronze has tin as the
major alloying elements. However, some bronze metals contain more zinc than tin, and
some contain zinc and no tin at all. High brasses contain from 20 to 45 percent zinc. Tensile
strength, hardness, and ductility increase as the percentage of zinc increases. These metals
are suitable for both hot and cold working.

b. Metal-Arc Welding. Brasses and bronzes can be successfully welded by the metal-arc
process. The electrode used should be of the shielded arc type with straight polarity
(electrode positive). Brasses can be welded with phosphor bronze, aluminum bronze, or
silicon bronze electrodes, depending on the base metal composition and the service
required. Backing plates of matching metal or copper should be used. High welding current
should not be used for welding copper-zinc alloys (brasses), otherwise the zinc content will
be volatilized. All welding should be done in the flat position. If possible, the weld metal
should be deposited with a weave approximately three times the width of the electrode.
c. Carbon-Arc Welding. This method can be used to weld brasses and bronzes with filler
reds of approximately the same composition as the base metal. In this process, welding is
accomplished in much the same way the bronze is bonded to steel. The metal in the carbon
arc is superheated, and this very hot metal is alloyed to the base metal in the joint.

d. Oxyacetylene Welding. The low brasses are readily jointed by oxyacetylene welding. This
process is particularly suited for piping because it can be done in all welding positions.
Silicon copper welding rods or one of the brass welding rods may be used. For oxyacetylene
welding of the high brasses, low-fuming welding rods are used. These low-fuming rods have
composition similar to many of the high brasses. A flux is required, and the torch flame
should be adjusted to a slightly oxidizing flame to assist in controlling fuming. Preheating
and an auxiliary heat source may also be necessary. The welding procedures for copper are
also suitable for the brasses.

e. Gas Metal Arc Welding. Gas metal arc welding is recommended for joining large phosphor
bronze fabrications and thick sections. Direct current, electrode positive, and argon
shielding are normally used. The molten weld pool should be kept small and the travel
speed rather high. Stringer beads should be used. Hot peening of each layer will reduce
welding stresses and the likelihood of cracking.

f. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Gas tungsten arc welding is used primarily for repair of
castings and joining of phosphor bronze sheet. As with gas metal arc welding, hot peening
of each layer of weld metal is beneficial. Either stabilized ac or direct current, electrode
negative can be used with helium or argon shielding. The metal should be preheated to the
350 to 400°F (177 to 204°C) range, and the travel speed should be as fast as practical.

g. Shielded Metal Arc Welding. Phosphor bronze covered electrodes are available for joining
bronzes of similar compositions. These electrodes are designed for use with direct current,
electrode positive. Filler metal should be deposited as stringer beads for best weld joint
mechanical properties. Postweld annealing at 900°F (482°C) is not always necessary, but is
desirable for maximum ductility, particularly if the weld metal is to be cold worked.
Moisture, both on the work and in the electrode coverings, must be strictly avoided. Baking
the electrodes at 250 to 300°F (121 to 149°C) before use may be necessary to reduce
moisture in the covering to an acceptable level.

7-19. COPPER WELDING

a. General. Copper and copper-base alloys have specific properties which make them widely
used. Their high electrical conductivity makes them widely used in the electrical industries,
and corrosion resistance of certain alloys makes them very useful in the process industries.
Copper alloys are also widely used for friction or bearing applications. Copper can be welded
satisfactorily with either bare or coated electrodes. The oxygen free copper can be welded
with more uniform results than the oxygen bearing copper, which tends to become brittle
when welded. Due to the high thermal conductivity of copper, the welding currents are
higher than those required for steel, and preheating of the base metal is necessary. Copper
shares some of the characteristics of aluminum, but is weldable. Attention should be given
to its properties that make the welding of copper and copper alloys different from the
welding of carbon steels. Copper alloys possess properties that require special attention
when welding. These are:

(1) High thermal conductivity.

 (2) High thermal expansion coefficient.

(3) Relatively low melting point.

(4) Hot short or brittle at elevated temperatures.

(5) Very fluid molten metal.

(6) High electrical conductivity.

(7) Strength due to cold working.

Copper has the highest thermal conductivity of all commercial metals, and the comments
made concerning thermal conductivity of aluminum apply to copper, to an even greater
degree.

Copper has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, approximately 50 percent

higher than carbon steel, but lower than aluminum.

The melting point of the different copper alloys varies over a relatively wide ranger but is at
least 1000°F (538°C) lower than carbon steel. Some of the copper alloys are hot short. This
means that they become brittle at high temperatures, because some of the alloying
elements form oxides and other compounds at the grain boundaries, embrittling the
material.

Copper does not exhibit heat colors like steel, and when it melts it is relatively fluid. This is
essentially the result of the high preheat normally used for heavier sections. Copper has the
highest electrical conductivity of any of the commercial metals. This is a definite problem in
the resistance welding processes.

All of the copper alloys derive their strength from cold working. The heat of welding will
anneal the copper in the heat-affected area adjacent to the weld, and reduce the strength
provided by cold working. This must be considered when welding high-strength joints.

There are three basic groups of copper designations. The first is the oxygen-free type which
has a copper analysis of 99.95 percent or higher. The second subgroup are the tough pitch
coppers which have a copper composition of 99.88 percent or higher and some high copper
alloys which have 96.00 percent or more copper.

The oxygen-free high-conductivity copper contains no oxygen and is not subject to grain
boundary migration. Adequate gas coverage should he used to avoid oxygen of the air
caning into contact with the molten metal. Welds should be made as quickly as possible,
since too much heat or slow welding can contribute to oxidation. The deoxidized coppers are
preferred because of their freedom from embrittlement by hydrogen. Hydrogen
embrittlement occurs when copper oxide is exposed to a reducing gas at high temperature.
The hydrogen reduces the copper oxide to copper and water vapor. The entrapped high
temperature water vapor or steam can create sufficient pressure to cause cracking. In
common with all copper welding, preheat should be used and can run from 250 to 1000°F
(121 to 538°C), depending on the mass involved.
The tough pitch electrolytic copper is difficult to weld because of the presence of copper
oxide within the material. During welding, the copper oxide will migrate to the grain
boundaries at high temperatures, which reduces ductility and tensile strength. The gas-
shielded processes are recommended since the welding area is more localized and the
copper oxide is less able to migrate in appreciable quantities.

The third copper subgroup is the high-copper alloys which may contain deoxidizers such as
phosphorus. The copper silicon filler wires are used with this material. The preheat
temperatures needed to make the weld quickly apply to all three grades.

c. Gas Metal-Arc (MIG) Welding (GMAW).

(1) The gas metal arc welding process is used for welding thicker materials. It is
faster, has a higher deposition rate, and usually results in less distortion. It can
produce high-quality welds in all positions. It uses direct current, electrode positive.
The CV type power source is recommended.

(2) Metal-arc welding of copper differs from steel welding as indicated below:

(a) Greater root openings are required.

(b) Tight joints should be avoided in light sections.

(c) Larger groove angles are required, particularly in heavy sections, in order
to avoid excessive undercutting, slag inclusions, and porosity. More frequent
tack welds should be used.

(d) Higher preheat and interpass temperatures are required (800°F (427°C)
for copper, 700°F (371°C) for beryllium copper).

(e) Higher currents are required for a given size electrode or plate thickness.

(3) Most copper and copper alloy coated electrodes are designed for use with reverse
(electrode positive) polarity. Electrodes for use with alternating currents are
available.

(4) Peening is used to reduce stresses in the joints. Flat-nosed tools are used for this
purpose. Numerous moderate blows should be used, because vigorous blows could
cause crystallizations or other defects in the joint.

d. Gas Tungsten-Arc (TIG) Welding (GTAW).

CAUTION

Never use a flux containing fluoride when welding copper or copper alloys.

(1) Copper can be successfully welded by the gas tungsten-arc welding process. The
weldability of each copper alloy group by this process depends upon the alloying
elements used. For this reason, no one set of welding conditions will cover all
groups.
 (2) Direct current straight polarity is generally used for welding most copper alloys.
However, high frequency alternating current or direct current reverse polarity is used
for beryllium copper or copper alloy sheets less than 0.05 in. (0.13 cm) thick.

(3) For some copper alloys, a flux is recommended. However, a flux containing
fluoride should never be used since the arc will vaporize the fluoride and irritate the
lungs of the operator.

e. Carbon-Arc Welding.

(1) This process for copper welding is most satisfactory for oxygen-free copper,
although it can be used for welding oxygen-bearing copper up to 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) in
thickness. The root opening for thinner material should be 3/16 in. (4.8 mm), and
3/8 in. (9.5 mm) for heavier material. The electrode should be graphite type carbon,
sharpened to a long tapered point at least equal to the size of the welding rod.
Phosphor bronze welding rods are used most frequently in this process.

(2) The arc should be sharp and directed entirely on the weld metal, even at the
start. If possible, all carbon-arc welding should be done in the flat welding position or
on a moderate slope.

7-20. MAGNESIUM WELDING

a. General. Magnesium is a white, very lightweight, machinable, corrosion resistant, high

strength metal. It can be alloyed with small quantities of other metals, such as aluminum,
manganese, zinc and zirconium, to obtain desired properties. It can be welded by most of
the welding processes used in the metal working trades. Because this metal oxidizes rapidly
when heated to its melting point in air, a protective inert gas shield must be provided in arc
welding to prevent destructive oxidation.

b. Magnesium possesses properties that make welding it different from the welding of
steels. Many of these are the same as for aluminum. These are:

(1) Magnesium oxide surface coating which increases with an increase in

temperature.

(2) High thermal conductivity.

(3) Relatively high thermal expansion coefficient.

(4) Relatively low melting temperature.

(5) The absence of color change as temperature approaches the melting point.

The normal metallurgical factors that apply to other metals apply to magnesium as well.

c. The welds produced between similar alloys will develop the full strength of the base
metals; however, the strength of the heat-affected zone may be reduced slightly. In all
magnesium alloys, the solidification range increases and the melting point and the thermal
expansion decrease as the alloy content increases. Aluminum added as an alloy up to 10
percent improves weldability, since it tends to refine the weld grain structure. Zinc of more
than 1 percent increases hot shortness, which can result in weld cracking. The high zinc
alloys are not recommended for arc welding because of their cracking tendencies.
Magnesium, containing small amounts of thorium, possesses excellent welding qualities and
freedom from cracking Weldments of these alloys do not require stress relieving. Certain
magnesium alloys are subject to stress corrosion. Weldments subjected to corrosive attack
over a period of time may crack adjacent to welds if the residual stresses are not removed.
Stress relieving is required for weldments intended for this type of service.

d. Cleaning. An oil coating or chrome pickle finish is usually provided on magnesium alloys
for surface protection during shipment and storage. This oil, along with other foreign matter
and metallic oxides, must be removed from the surface prior to welding. Chemical cleaning
is preferred, because it is faster and more uniform in its action. Mechanical cleaning can be
utilized if chemical cleaning facilities are not available. A final bright chrome pickle finish is
recommended for parts that are to be arc welded. The various methods for cleaning
magnesium are described below.

WARNING

The vapors from some chlorinated solvents (e.g., carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene,
and perchloroethylene) break down under the ultraviolet radiation of an electric arc and
form a toxic gas. Avoid welding where such vapors are present. These solvents vaporize
easily, and prolonged inhalation of the vapor can be hazardous. These organic vapors
should be removed from the work area before welding begins.

Dry cleaning solvent and mineral spirits paint thinner are highly flammable. Do not clean
parts near an open flame or in a smoking area. Dry cleaning solvent and mineral spirits
paint thinner evaporate quickly and have a defatting effect on the skin. When used without
protective gloves, these chemicals may cause irritation or cracking of the skin. Cleaning
operations should be performed only in well ventilated areas.

(1) Grease should be removed by the vapor degreasing system in which

trichloroethylene is utilized or with a hot alkaline cleaning compound. Grease may
also be removed by dipping small parts in dry cleaning solvent or mineral spirits
paint thinner.

(2) Mechanical cleaning can be done satisfactorily with 160 and 240 grit aluminum
oxide abrasive cloth, stainless steel wool, or by wire brushing.

WARNING

Precleaning and postcleaning acids used in magnesium welding and brazing are highly toxic
and corrosive. Goggles, rubber gloves, and rubber aprons should be worn when handling
the acids and solutions. Do not inhale fumes and mists. When spilled on the body or
clothing, wash immediately with large quantities of cold water, and seek medical attention.
Never pour water into acid when preparing solution; instead, pour acid into water. Always
mix acid and water slowly. Cleaning operations should be performed only in well ventilated
areas.
 (3) Immediately after the grease, oil, and other foreign materials have been
removed from the surface, the metal should be dipped for 3 minutes in a hot solution
with the following composition:

The bath should be operated at 70°F (21°C). The work should be removed from the
solution, thoroughly rinsed with hot water, and air dried. The welding rod should also
be cleaned to obtain the best results.

e. Joint Preparation. Edges that are to be welded must be smooth and free of loose pieces
and cavities that might contain contaminating agents, such as oil or oxides. Joint
preparations for arc welding various gauges of magnesium are shown in figure 7-13.
f. Safety Precautions.

CAUTION

Magnesium can ignite and burn when heated in the open atmosphere.

(1) Goggles, gloves, and other equipment designed to protect the eyes and skin of
the welder must be worn.

(2) The possibility of fire caused by welding magnesium metal is very remote. The
temperature of initial fusion must be reached before solid magnesium metal ignites.
Sustained burning occurs only if this temperature is maintained. Finely divided
magnesium particles such as grinding dust, filings, shavings, borings, and chips
present a fire hazard. They ignite readily if proper precautions are not taken.
Magnesium scrap of this type is not common to welding operations. If a magnesium
fire does start, it can be extinguished with dry sand, dry powdered soapstone, or dry
cast iron chips. The preferred extinguishing agents for magnesium fires are graphite
base powders.

g. Gas Tungsten-Arc (TIG) Welding (GTAW) of Magnesium.

(1) Because of its rapid oxidation when magnesium is heated to its melting point, an
inert gas (argon or helium) is used to shield metal during arc welding. This process
requires no flux and permits high welding speeds, with sound welds of high strength.

(2) Direct current machines of the constant current type operating on straight
polarity (electrode positive) and alternating current machines are used with a high
frequency current superimposed on the welding current. Both alternating and direct
current machines are used for thin gauge material. However, because of better
penetrating power, alternating current machines are used on material over 3/16 in.
(4.8 mm) thick. Helium is considered more practical than argon for use with direct
current reverse polarity. However, three times as much helium by volume as argon
is required for a given amount of welding. Argon is used with alternating current.

(3) The tungsten electrodes are held in a water cooled torch equipped with required
electrical cables and an inlet and nozzle for the inert gas.

(4) The two magnesium alloys, in the form of sheet, plate, and extrusion, that are
most commonly used for applications involving welding are ASTM-1A (Fed Spec QQ-
M-54), which is alloyed with manganese, and ASTM-AZ31A (Fed SPec QQ-44), which
is alloyed with aluminum, manganese, and zinc.

(5) In general, less preparation is required for welding with alternating current than
welding with direct current because of the greater penetration obtained. Sheets up to
1/4 in. (6.4 mm) thickness may be welded from one side with a square butt joint.
Sheets over 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) thickness should be welded from both sides whenever
the nature of the structure permits, as sounder welds may be obtained with less
warpages. For a double V joint, the included angle should extend from both sides to
leave a minimum 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) root face in the center of the sheets. When
welding a double V joint, the back of the first bead should be chipped out using a
chipping hammer fitted with a cape chisel. Remove oxide film, dirt, and incompletely
fused areas before the second bead is added. In this manner, maximum soundness
is obtained.

(6) The gas should start flowing a fraction of a second before the arc is struck. The
arc is struck by brushing the electrode over the surface. With alternating current, the
arc should be started and stopped by means of a remote control switch. The average
arc length should be about 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) when using helium and 1/16 in. (1.6
mm) when using argon. Current data and rod diameter are shown in table 7-24.

(7) When welding with alternating current, maximum penetration is obtained when
the end of the electrode is held flush with or slightly below the surface of the work.
The torch should be held nearly perpendicular to the surface of the work, and the
welding rod added from a position as neatly parallel with the work as possible (fig. 7-
14). The torch should have a slightly leading travel angle.
(8) Welding should progress in a straight line at a uniform speed. There should be no
rotary or weaving motion of the rod or torch, except for larger corner joints or fillet
welds. The welding rod can be fed either continuously or intermittently. Care should
be taken to avoid withdrawing the heated end from the protective gaseous
atmosphere during the welding operation. The cold wire filler metal should be
brought in as near to horizontal as possible (on flat work). The filler wire is added to
the leading edge of the weld puddle. Runoff tabs are recommended for welding any
except the thinner metals. Forehand welding, in which the welding rod precedes the
torch in the direction of welding, is preferred. If stops are necessary, the weld should
be started about 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) back from the end of the weld when welding is
resumed.

(9) Because of the high coefficient of thermal expansion and conductivity, control of
distortion in the welding of magnesium requires jigging, small beads, and a properly
selected welding sequence to help minimize distortion. Magnesium parts can be
straightened by holding them in position with clamps and heating to 300 to 400°F
(149 to 204°C). If this heating is done by local torch application, care must be taken
not to overheat the metal and destroy its properties.

(10) If cracking is encountered during the welding of certain magnesium alloys,

starting and stopping plates may be used to overcome this difficult. These plates
consist of scrap pieces of magnesium stock butted against opposite ends of the joint
to be welded as shown in A, figure 7-15. The weld is started on one of the abutting
plates, continued across the junction along the joint to be welded, and stopped on
the opposite abutting plate. If a V groove is used, the abutting plates should also be
grooved. An alternate method is to start the weld in the middle of the joint and weld
to each edge (B, fig. 7-15). Cracking may also be minimized by preheating the plate
and holding the jig to 200 to 400°F (93 to 204°C) by increasing the speed of the
weld.
(11) Filler reds must be of the same composition as the alloy being joined when arc
welding. One exception is when welding AZ31B. In this case, grade C rod (MIL-R-
6944), which produces a stronger weld metal, is used to reduce cracking.

(12) Residual stress should be relieved through heat treatment. Stress relief is
essential so that lockup stresses will not cause stress corrosion cracking. The
recommended stress relieving treatment for arc welding magnesium sheet is shown
in table 7-25.

(13) The only cleaning required after arc welding of magnesium alloys is wire
brushing to remove the slight oxide deposit on the surface. Brushing may leave
traces of iron, which may cause galvanic corrosion. If necessary, clean as in b above.
Arc welding smoke can be removed by immersing the parts for 1/2 to 2 minutes at
180 to 212°F (82 to 100°C), in a solution composed of 16 oz (453 g) tetrasodium
pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7), 16 oz (453 g) sodium metaborate (NaBO2), and enough
water to make 1 gallon (3.8 1).

(14) Welding procedure schedules for GTAW of magnesium (TIG welding) are shown
in table 7-26.
h. Gas Metal-Arc (MIG) Welding of Magnesium (GMAW). The gas metal arc welding process
is used for the medium to thicker sections. It is considerably faster than gas tungsten arc
welding. Special high-speed gear ratios are usually required in the wire feeders since the
magnesium electrode wire has an extremely high meltoff rate. The normal wire feeder and
power supply used for aluminum welding is suitable for welding magnesium. Different types
of arc transfer can be obtained when welding magnesium. This is primarily a matter of
current level or current density and voltage setting. The short-circuiting transfer and the
spray transfer are recommended. Argon is usually used for gas metal arc welding of
magnesium; however, argon-helium mixtures can be used. In general, the spray transfer
should be used on material 3/16 in. (4.8 mm) and thicker and the short-circuiting arc used
for thinner metals. Welding procedure schedules for GMAW of magnesium (MIG welding) are
shown in table 7-27.
i. Other Welding Processes. Magnesium can be welded using the resistance welding
processes, including spot welding, seam welding, and flash welding. Magnesium can also be
joined by brazing. Most of the different brazing techniques can be used. In all cases, brazing
flux is required and the flux residue must be completely removed from the finish part.
Soldering is not as effective, since the strength of the joint is relatively low. Magnesium can
also be stud welded, gas welded, and plasma-arc welded.

7-21. TITANIUM WELDING

a. General.

(1) Titanium is a soft, silvery white, medium strength metal with very good corrosion
resistance. It has a high strength to weight ratio, and its tensile strength increases
as the temperature decreases. Titanium has low impact and creep strengths. It has
seizing tendencies at temperatures above 800°F (427°C).

(2) Titanium has a high affinity for oxygen and other gases at elevated
temperatures, and for this reason, cannot be welded with any process that utilizes
fluxes, or where heated metal is exposed to the atmosphere. Minor amounts of
impurities cause titanium to become brittle.

(3) Titanium has the characteristic known as the ductile-brittle transition. This refers
to a temperature at which the metal breaks in a brittle manner, rather than in a
ductile fashion. The recrystallization of the metal during welding can raise the
transition temperature. Contamination during the high temperate period and
impurities can raise the transition temperature period and impurities can raise the
transition temperature so that the material is brittle at room temperatures. If
contamination occurs so that transition temperature is raised sufficiently, it will make
the welding worthless. Gas contamination can occur at temperatures below the
melting point of the metal. These temperatures range from 700°F (371°C) up to
1000°F (538°C).

(4) At room temperature, titanium has an impervious oxide coating that resists
further reaction with air. The oxide coating melts at temperatures considerably
higher than the melting point of the base metal and creates problems. The oxidized
coating may enter molten weld metal and create discontinuities which greatly reduce
the strength and ductility of the weld.

(5) The procedures for welding titanium and titanium alloys are similar to other
metals. Some processes, such as oxyacetylene or arc welding processes using active
gases, cannot be used due to the high chemical activity of titanium and its sensitivity
to embrittlement by contamination. Processes that are satisfactory for welding
titanium and titanium alloys include gas shielded metal-arc welding, gas tungsten arc
welding, and spot, seam, flash, and pressure welding. Special procedures must be
employed when using the gas shielded welding processes. These special procedures
include the use of large gas nozzles and trailing shields to shield the face of the weld
from air. Backing bars that provide inert gas to shield the back of the welds from air
are also used. Not only the molten weld metal, but the material heated above
1000°F (538°C) by the weld must be adequately shielded in order to prevent
embrittlement. All of these processes provide for shielding of the molten weld metal
and heat affected zones. Prior to welding, titanium and its alloys must be free of all
scale and other material that might cause weld contamination.
b. Surface Preparation.

WARNING

The nitric acid used to preclean titanium for inert gas shielded arc welding is highly toxic
and corrosive. Goggles, rubber gloves, and rubber aprons must be worn when handling acid
and acid solutions. Do not inhale gases and mists. When spilled on the body or clothing,
wash immediately with large quantities of cold water, and seek medical help. Never pour
water into acid when preparing the solution; instead, pour acid into water. Always mix acid
and water slowly. Perform cleaning operations only in well ventilated places.

The caustic chemicals (including sodium hydride) used to preclean titanium for inert gas
shielded arc welding are highly toxic and corrosive. Goggles, rubber gloves, and rubber
aprons must be worn when handling these chemicals. Do not inhale gases or mists. When
spilled on the body or clothing, wash immediately with large quantities of cold water and
seek medical help. Special care should be taken at all times to prevent any water from
coming in contact with the molten bath or any other large amount of sodium hydride, as
this will cause the formation of highly explosive hydrogen gas.

(1) Surface cleaning is important in preparing titanium and its alloys for welding.
Proper surface cleaning prior to welding reduces contamination of the weld due to
surface scale or other foreign materials. Small amounts of contamination can render
titanium completely brittle.

(2) Several cleaning procedures are used, depending on the surface condition of the
base and filler metals. Surface conditions most often encountered are as follows:

(a) Scale free (as received from the mill).

(b) Light scale (after hot forming or annealing at intermediate temperature;

ie., less than 1300°F (704°C).

(c) Heavy scale (after hot forming, annealing, or forging at high

temperature).

(3) Metals that are scale free can be cleaned by simple decreasing.

(4) Metals with light oxide scale should be cleaned by acid pickling. In order to
minimize hydrogen pickup, pickling solutions for this operation should have a nitric
acid concentration greater than 20 percent. Metals to be welded should be pickled for
1 to 20 minutes at a bath temperature from 80 to 160°F (27 to 71°C). After pickling,
the parts are rinsed in hot water.

(5) Metals with a heavy scale should be cleaned with sand, grit, or vaporblasting,
molten sodium hydride salt baths, or molten caustic baths. Sand, grit, or
vaporblasting is preferred where applicable. Hydrogen pickup may occur with molten
bath treatments, but it can be minimized by controlling the bath temperature and
pickling time. Bath temperature should be held at about 750 to 850°F (399 to
454°C). Parts should not be pickled any longer than necessary to remove scale. After
heavy scale is removed, the metal should be pickled as described in (4) above.
 (6) Surfaces of metals that have undergone oxyacetylene flame cutting operations
have a very heavy scale, and may contain microscopic cracks due to excessive
contamination of the metallurgical characteristics of the alloys. The best cleaning
method for flame cut surfaces is to remove the contaminated layer and any cracks
by machining operations. Certain alloys can be stress relieved immediately after
cutting to prevent the propagation of these cracks. This stress relief is usually made
in conjunction with the cutting operation.

c. MIG or TIG Welding of titanium.

(1) General. Both the MIG and TIG welding processes are used to weld titanium and
titanium alloys. They are satisfactory for manual and automatic installations. With
these processes, contamination of the molten weld metals and adjacent heated
zones is minimized by shielding the arc and the root of the weld with inert gases (see
(2)(b)) or special backing bars (see (2)(c)). In some cases, inert gas filler welding
chambers (see (3)) are used to provide the required shielding. When using the TIG
welding process, a thoriated tungsten electrode should be used. The electrode size
should be the smallest diameter that will carry the welding current. The electrode
should be ground to a point. The electrode may extend 1-1/2 times its diameter
beyond the end of the nozzle. Welding is done with direct current, electrode negative
(straight polarity). Welding procedure for TIG welding titanium are shown in table 7-
28. Selection of the filler metal will depend upon the titanium alloys being joined.
When welding pure titanium, a pure titanium wire should be used. When welding a
titanium alloy, the next lowest strength alloy should be used as a filler wire. Due to
the dilution which will take place dining welding, the weld deposit will pick up the
required strength. The same considerations are true when MIG welding titanium.
(2) Shielding.

(a) General. Very good shielding conditions are necessary to produce arc
welded joints with maximum ductility and toughness. To obtain these
conditions, the amount of air or other active gases which contact the molten
weld metals and. adjacent heated zones must be very low. Argon is normally
used with the gas-shielded process. For thicker metal, use helium or a
mixture of argon and helium. Welding grade shielding gases are generally
free from contamination; however, tests can be made before welding. A
simple test is to make a bead on a piece of clean scrap titanium, and notice
its color. The bead should be shiny. Any discoloration of the surface indicates
a contamination. Extra gas shielding provides protection for the heated solid
metal next to the weld metal. This shielding is provided by special trailing gas
nozzles, or by chill bars laid immediately next to the weld. Backup gas
shielding should be provided to protect the underside of the weld joint.
Protection of the back side of the joint can also be provided by placing chill
bars in intimate contact with the backing strips. If the contact is close
enough, backup shielding gas is not required. For critical applications, use an
inert gas welding chamber. These can be flexible, rigid, or vacuum-purge
chambers.

(b) Inert gases. Both helium and argon are used as the shielding gases. With
helium as the shielding gas high welding speeds and better penetration are
obtained than with argon, but the arc is more stable in argon. For open air
welding operations, most welders prefer argon as the shielding gas because
its density is greater than that of air. Mixtures of argon and helium are also
used. With mixtures, the arc characteristics of both helium and argon are
obtained. The mixtures usually vary in composition from about 20 to 80
percent argon. They are often used with the consumable electrode process.
To provide adequate shielding for the face and root sides of welds, special
precautions often are taken. The precautions include the use of screens and
baffles (see (c) 3), trailing shields (see (c) 7), and special backing fixtures
(see (c) 10) in open air welding, and the use of inert gas filler welding
chambers.

(c) Open air welding.

1. In open air welding operations, the methods used to shield the face
of the weld vary with joint design, welding conditions, and the
thickness of the materials being joined. The most critical area in
regard to the shielding is the molten weld puddle. Impurities diffuse
into the molten metal very rapidly and remain in solution. The gas
flowing through a standard welding torch is sufficient to shield the
molten zone. Because of the low thermal conductivity of titanium,
however, the molten puddle tends to be larger than most metals. For
this reason and because of shielding conditions required in welding
titanium, larger nozzles are used on the welding torch, with
proportionally higher gas flows that are required for other metals. Chill
bars often are used to limit the size of the puddle.

2. The primary sources of contamination in the molten weld puddle are

turbulence in the gas flow, oxidation of hot filler reds, insufficient gas
flow, small nozzles on the welding torch, and impure shielding gases.
The latter three sources are easily controlled.

3. If turbulence occurs in the gas flowing from the torch, air will be
inspired and contamination will result. Turbulence is generally caused
by excessive amounts of gas flowing through the torch, long arc
lengths, air currents blowing across the weld, and joint design.
Contamination from this source can be minimized by adjusting gas
flows and arc lengths, and by placing baffles alongside the welds.
Baffles protect the weld from drafts and tend to retard the flow of
shielding gas from the joint area. Chill bars or the clamping toes of the
welding jig can serve as baffles (fig. 7-16). Baffles are especially
important for making corner type welds. Additional precautions can be
taken to protect the operation from drafts and turbulence. This can be
achieved by erecting a canvas (or other suitable material) screen
around the work area.

4. In manual welding operations with the tungsten-arc process,

oxidation of the hot filler metal is a very important source of
contamination. To control it, the hot end of the filler wire must be kept
within the gas shield of the welding torch. Welding operators must be
trained to keep the filler wire shielded when welding titanium and its
alloys. Even with proper manipulation, however, contamination from
this source probably cannot be eliminated completely.

5. Weld contamination which occurs in the molten weld puddle is

especially hazardous. The impurities go into solution, and do not cause
discoloration. Although discolored welds may have been improperly
shielded while molten, weld discoloration is usually caused by
contamination which occurs after the weld has solidified.

6. Most of the auxiliary equipment used on torches to weld titanium is

designed to improve shielding conditions for the welds as they solidify
and cool. However, if the welding heat input is low and the weld cools
to temperatures below about 1200 to 1300°F (649 to 704°C) while
shielded, auxiliary shielding equipment is not required. If the weld is at
an excessively high temperature after it is no longer shielded by the
welding torch, auxiliary shielding must be supplied.
7. Trailing shields often are used to supply auxiliary shielding. These
shields extend behind the welding torch and vary considerably in size,
shaper and design. They are incorporated into special cups which are
used on the welding torch, or may consist only of tubes or hoses
attached to the torch or manipulated by hand to direct a stream of
inert gas on the welds. Figure 7-17 shows a drawing of one type of
trailing shield currently in use. Important features of this shield are
that the porous diffusion plate allows an even flow of gas over the
shielded area. This will prevent turbulence in the gas stream. The
shield fits on the torch so that a continuous gas stream between the
torch and shield is obtained.

8. Baffles are also beneficial in improving shielding conditions for welds

by retarding the flow of shielding gas from the joint area. Baffles may
be placed alongside the weld, over the top, or at the ends of the weld.
In some instances, they may actually form a chamber around the arc
and molten weld puddle. Also, chill bars may be used to increase weld
cooling rates and may make auxiliary shielding unnecessary.

9. Very little difficulty has been encountered in shielding the face of

welds in automatic welding operations. However, considerable
difficulty has been encountered in manual operations.

10. In open air welding operations, means must be provided for

shielding the root or back of the welds. Backing fixtures are often used
for this purpose. In one type, an auxiliary supply of inert gas is
provided to shield the back of the weld. In the other, a solid or
grooved backing bar fits tightly against the back of the weld and
provides the required shielding. Fixtures which provide an inert gas
shield are preferred, especially in manual welding operations with low
welding speeds. Figure 7-18 shows backing fixtures used in butt
welding heavy plate and thin sheet, respectively. Similar types of
fixtures are used for other joint designs. However, the design of the
fixtures varies with the design of the joints. For fillet welds on tee
joints, shielding should be supplied for two sides of the weld in
addition to shielding the face of the weld.
 11. For some applications, it may be easier to enclose the back of the
weld, as in a tank, and supply inert gas for shielding purposes. This
method is necessary in welding tanks, tubes, or other enclosed
structures where access to the back of the weld is not possible. In
some weldments, it may be necessary to machine holes or grooves in
the structures in order to provide shielding gas for the back or root of
the welds.

WARNING

When using weld backup tape, the weld must be allowed to cool for several minutes before
attempting to remove the tape from the workpiece.

12. Use of backing fixtures such as shown in figure 7-18 can be

eliminated in many cases by the use of weld backup tape. This tape
consists of a center strip of heat resistant fiberglass adhered to a wider
strip of aluminum foil, along with a strip of adhesive on each side of
the center strip that is used to hold tape to the underside of the tack
welded joint. During the welding, the fiberglass portion of the tape is
in direct contact with the molten metal, preventing excessive
penetration. Contamination or oxidation of the underside of the weld is
prevented by the airtight seal created by the aluminum foil strip. The
tape can be used on butt or corner joints (fig. 7-19) or, because of its
flexibility, on curved or irregularly shaped surfaces. The surface to
which the tape is applied must be clean and dry. Best results are
obtained by using a root gap wide enough to allow full penetration.
 13. Bend or notch toughness tests are the best methods for evaluating
shielding conditions, but visual inspection of the weld surface, which is
not an infallible method, is the only nondestructive means for
evaluating weld quality at the present time. With this method, the
presence of a heavy gray scale with a nonmetallic luster on the weld
bead indicates that the weld has been contaminate badly and has low
ductility. Also, the weld surface may be shiny but have different colors,
ranging from grayish blue to violet to brown. This type of discoloration
may be found on severely contaminated welds or may be due only to
surface contamination, while the weld itself may be satisfactory.
However, the quality of the weld cannot be determined without a
destructive test. With good shielding procedures, weld surfaces are
shiny and show no discoloration.

(3) Welding chambers.

(a) For some applications, inert gas filled welding chambers are used. The
advantage of using such chambers is that good shielding may be obtained for
the root and face of the weld without the use of special fixtures. Also, the
surface appearance of such welds is a fairly reliable measure of shielding
conditions. The use of chambers is especially advantageous when complex
joints are being welded. However, chambers are not required for many
applications, and their use may be limited.

(b) Welding chambers vary in size and shape, depending on their use and the
size of assemblies to be welded. The inert atmospheres maybe obtained by
evacuating the chamber and filling it with helium or argon, purging the
 chamber with inert gas, or collapsing the chamber to expel air and refilling it
with an inert gas. Plastic bags have been used in this latter manner. When
the atmospheres are obtained by purging or collapsing the chambers, inert
gas usually is supplied through the welding torch to insure complete
protection of the welds.

(4) Joint designs. Joint designs for titanium are similar to those used for other
metals. For welding a thin sheet, the tungsten-arc process generally is used. With
this process, butt welds may be made with or without filler rod, depending on the
thickness of the joint and fitup. Special shearing procedures sometimes are used so
that the root opening does not exceed 8 percent of the sheet thickness. If fitup is
this good, filler rod is not required. If fitup is not this good, filler metal is added to
obtain full thickness joints. In welding thicker sheets (greater than 0.09 in. (2.3
mm)), both the tungsten-arc and consumable electrode processes are used with a
root opening. For welding titanium plates, bars, or forgings, both the tungsten-arc
and consumable electrode processes also are used with single and double V joints. In
all cases, good weld penetration may be obtained with excessive drop through.
However, penetration and dropthrough are controlled more easily by the use of
proper backing fixtures.

NOTE

Because of the low thermal conductivity of titanium, weld beads tend to be wider than
normal. However, the width of the beads is generally controlled by using short arc lengths,
or by placing chill bars or the clamping toes of the jig close to the sides of the joints.

(5) Welding variables.

(a) Welding speed and current for titanium alloys depend on the process
used, shielding gas, thickness of the material being welded, design of the
backing fixtures, along with the spacing of chill bars or clamping bars in the
welding jig. Welding speeds vary from about 3.0 to 40.0 in. (76.2 to 1016.0
mm) per minute. The highest welding speeds are obtained with the
consumable electrode process. In most cases, direct current is used with
straight polarity for the tungsten-arc process. Reverse polarity is used for the
consumable electrode process.

(b) Arc wander has proven troublesome in some automatic welding

operations. With arc wander, the arc from the tungsten or consumable
electrode moves from one side of the weld joint to the other side. A straight,
uniform weld bead will not be produced. Arc wander is believed to be caused
by magnetic disturbances, bends in the filler wire, coatings on the filler wire,
or a combination of these. Special metal shields and wire straighteners have
been used to overcome arc wander, but have not been completely
satisfactory. Also, constant voltage welding machines have been used in an
attempt to overcome this problem. These machines also have not been
completely satisfactory.

(c) In setting up arc welding operations for titanium, the welding conditions
should be evaluated on the basis of weld joint properties and appearance.
Radiographs will show if porosity or cracking is present in the weld joint. A
simple bend test or notch toughness test will show whether or not the
 shielding conditions are adequate. A visual examination of the weld will show
if the weld penetration and contour are satisfactory. After adequate
procedures are established, careful controls are desirable to ensure that the
shielding conditions are not changed.

(6) Weld defects.

(a) General. Defects in arc welded joints in titanium alloys consist mainly of
porosity (see (b)) and cold cracks (see (c)). Weld penetration can be
controlled by adjusting welding conditions.

(b) Porosity. Weld porosity is a major problem in arc welding titanium alloys.
Although acceptable limits for porosity in arc welded joints have not been
establish, porosity has been observed in tungsten-arc welds in practically all
of the alloys which appear suitable for welding operations. It does not extend
to the surface of the weld, but has been detected in radiographs. It usually
occurs close to the fusion line of the welds. Weld porosity may be reduced by
agitating the molten weld puddle and adjusting welding speeds. Also,
remelting the weld will eliminate some of the porosity present after the first
pass. However, the latter method of reducing weld porosity tends to increase
weld contamination.

(c) Cracks.

1. With adequate shielding procedures and suitable alloys, cracks

should not be a problem. However, cracks have been troublesome in
welding some alloys. Weld cracks are attributed to a number of
causes. In commercially pure titanium, weld metal cracks are believed
to be caused by excessive oxygen or nitrogen contamination. These
cracks are usually observed in weld craters. In some of the alpha-beta
alloys, transverse cracks in the weld metal and heat affected zones are
believed to be due to the low ductility of the weld zones. However,
cracks in these alloys also may be due to contamination. Cracks also
have been observed in alpha-beta welds made under restraint and
with high external stresses. These cracks are sometimes attributed to
the hydrogen content of the alloys.

NOTE

If weld cracking is due to contamination, it may be controlled by improving shielding

conditions. However, repair welding on excessively contaminated welds is not practical in
many cases.

2. Cracks which are caused by the low ductility of welds in alpha-beta

alloys can be prevented by heat treating or stress relieving the
weldment in a furnance immediately after welding. Oxyacetylene
torches also have been used for this purpose. However, care must be
taken so that the weldment is not overheated or excessively
contaminated by the torch heating operation.
 3. Cracks due to hydrogen may be prevented by vacuum annealing
treatments prior to welding.

(7) Availability of welding filler wire. Most of the titanium alloys which are being used
in arc welding applications are available as wire for use as welding filler metal. These
alloys are listed below:

(a) Commercially pure titanium --commercially available as wire.

(b) Ti-5A1-2-1/2Sn alloy --available as wire in experimental quantities.

(c) Ti-1-1/2A1-3Mn alloy --available as wire in experimental quantities.

(d) Ti-6A1-4V alloy --available as wire in experimental quantities.

(e) There has not been a great deal of need for the other alloys as welding
filler wires. However, if such a need occurs, most of these alloys also could be
reduced to wire. In fact, the Ti-8Mn alloy has been furnished as welding wire
to meet some requests.

d. Pressure Welding. Solid phase or pressure welding has been used to join titanium and
titanium alloys. In these processes, the surfaces to be jointed are not melted. They are held
together under pressure and heated to elevated temperatures (900 to 2000°F (482 to
1093°C)). One method of heating used in pressure welding is the oxyacetylene flame. With
suitable pressure and upset, good welds are obtainable in the high strength alpha-beta
titanium alloys. The contaminated area on the surface of the weld is displaced from the joint
area by the upset, which occurs during welding. This contaminated surface is machined off
after welding. Another method of heating is by heated dies. Strong lap joints are obtained
with this method in commercially pure titanium and a high strength alpha-beta alloy. By
heating in this manner, welds may be made in very short periods of time, and inert gas
shielding may be supplied to the joint. With all of the heating methods, less than 2 minutes
is required to complete the welding operation. With solid phase or pressure welding
processes, it is possible to produce ductile welds in the high strength alpha-beta alloys by
using temperatures which do not cause embrittlement in these alloys.

7-22. NICKEL AND MONTEL WELDING

a. General. Nickel is a hard, malleable, ductile metal. Nickel and its alloys are commonly
used when corrosion resistance is required. Nickel and nickel alloys such as Monel can, in
general, be welded by metal-arc and gas welding methods. Some nickel alloys are more
difficult to weld due to different compositions. The operator should make trial welds with
reverse polarity at several current values and select the one best suited for the work.
Generally, the oxyacetylene welding methods are preferred for smaller plates. However,
small plates can be welded by the metal-arc and carbon-arc processes, and large plates are
most satisfactorily joined, especially if the plate is nickel clad steel.

When welding, the nickel alloys can be treated much in the same manner as austenitic
stainless steels with a few exceptions. These exceptions are:

(1) The nickel alloys will acquire a surface or coating which melts at a temperature
approximately 1000°F (538°C) above the melting point of the base metal.
 (2) The nickel alloys are susceptible to embrittlement at welding temperatures by
lead, sulfur, phosphorus, and some low-temperature metals and alloys.

(3) Weld penetration is less than expected with other metals.

When compensation is made for these three factors, the welding procedures used for the
nickel alloys can he the same as those used for stainless steel. This is because the melting
point, the coefficient of thermal expansion, and the thermal conductivity are similar to
austenitic stainless steel.

It is necessary that each of these precautions be considered. The surface oxide should be
completely removed from the joint area by grinding, abrasive blasting, machining, or by
chemical means. When chemical etches are used, they must be completely removed by
rinsing prior to welding. The oxide which melts at temperatures above the melting point of
the base metal may enter the weld as a foreign material, or impurity, and will greatly
reduce the strength and ductility of the weld. The problem of embrittlement at welding
temperatures also means that the weld surface must be absolutely clean. Paints, crayon
markings, grease, oil, machining lubricants, and cutting oils may all contain the ingredients
which will cause embrittlement. They must be completely removed for the weld area to
avoid embrittlement. It is necessary to increase the opening of groove angles and to provide
adequate root openings when full-penetration welds are used. The bevel or groove angles
should be increased to approximately 40 percent over those used for carbon steel.

b. Joint Design. Butt joints are preferred but corner and lap joints can be effectively welded.
Beveling is not required on plates 1/16 to 1/8 in. (1.6 to 3.2 mm) thick. With thicker
materials, a bevel angle of 35 to 37-1/2 degrees should be made. When welding lap joints,
the weld should be made entirely with nickel electrodes if water or air tightness is required.

c. Welding Techniques.

(1) Clean all surfaces to be welded either mechanically by machine, sand-blasting,

grinding, or with abrasive cloth; or chemically by pickling.

(2) Plates having U or V joints should be assembled, and if nickel clad steel, should
be tacked on the steel side to prevent warping and distortion. After it is determined
that the joint is even and flat, complete the weld on the steel side. Chip out and
clean the nickel side and weld. If the base metal on both sides is nickel, clean out the
groove on the unwelded side prior to beginning the weld on that side.

(3) If desired, the nickel side may be completed first. However, the steel side must
be tacked and thoroughly cleaned and beveled (or gouged) down to the root of the
nickel weld prior to welding.

(4) Lap and corner joints are successfully welded by depositing a bead of nickel
metal into the root and then weaving successive beads over the root weld.

(5) The arc drawn for nickel or nickel alloy welding should be slightly shorter than
that used in normal metal-arc welding. A 1/16 to 1/8 in. (1.6 to 3.2 mm) arc is a
necessity.
 (6) Any position weld can be accomplished that can be satisfactorily welded by
normal metal-arc welding of steel.

d. Welding Methods.

(1) Almost all the welding processes can be used for welding the nickel alloys. In
addition, they can be joined by brazing and soldering.

(2) Welding nickel alloys. The most popular processes for welding nickel alloys are
the shielded metal arc welding process, the gas tungsten arc welding process, and
the gas metal arc welding process. Process selection depends on the normal factors.
When shielded metal arc welding is used the procedures are essentially the same as
those used for stainless steel welding.

The welding procedure schedule for using gas tungsten arc welding (TIG) is shown
by table 7-29. The welding procedure schedule for gas metal arc welding (MIG) is
shown by table 7-30. The procedure information set forth on these tables will provide
starting points for developing the welding procedures.
 (3) No postweld heat treatment is required to maintain or restore corrosion
resistance of the nickel alloys. Heat treatment is required for precipitating hardening
alloys. Stress relief may be required to meet certain specifications to avoid stress
corrosion cracking in applications involving hydrofluoric acid vapors or caustic
solutions.

VISUAL INSPECTION AND CORRECTIONS

13-4. INCOMPLETE PENETRATION

This term is used to describe the failure of the filler and base metal to fuse together at the
root of the joint. Bridging occurs in groove welds when the deposited metal and base metal
are not fused at the root of the joint. The frequent cause of incomplete penetration is a joint
design which is not suitable for the welding process or the conditions of construction. When
the groove is welded from one side only, incomplete penetration is likely to result under the
following conditions.

a. The root face dimension is too big even though the root opening is adequate.

b. The root opening is too small.

c. The included angle of a V-groove is too small.

d. The electrode is too large.

e. The rate of travel is too high.

f. The welding current is too low.

13-5. LACK OF FUSION

Lack of fusion is the failure of a welding process to fuse together layers of weld metal or
weld metal and base metal. The weld metal just rolls over the plate surfaces. This is
generally referred to as overlap. Lack of fusion is caused by the following conditions:

a. Failure to raise to the melting point the temperature of the base metal or the previously
deposited weld metal.

b. Improper fluxing, which fails to dissolve the oxide and other foreign material from the
surfaces to which the deposited metal must fuse.

c. Dirty plate surfaces.

d. Improper electrode size or type.

e. Wrong current adjustment.

13-6. UNDERCUTTING
Undercutting is the burning away of the base metal at the toe of the weld. Undercutting
may be caused by the following conditions:

a. Current adjustment that is too high.

b. Arc gap that is too long.

c. Failure to fill up the crater completely with weld metal.

13-7. SLAG INCLUSIONS

Slag inclusions are elongated or globular pockets of metallic oxides and other solids
compounds. They produce porosity in the weld metal. In arc welding, slag inclusions are
generally made up of electrode coating materials or fluxes. In multilayer welding operations,
failure to remove the slag between the layers causes slag inclusions. Most slag inclusion can
be prevented by:

a. Preparing the groove and weld properly before each bead is deposited.

b. Removing all slag.

c. Making sure that the slag rises to the surface of the weld pool.

d. Taking care to avoid leaving any contours which will be difficult to penetrate fully with the
arc.

13-8. POROSITY

a. Porosity is the presence of pockets which do not contain any solid material. They differ
from slag inclusions in that the pockets contain gas rather than a solid. The gases forming
the voids are derived form:

(1) Gas released by cooling weld because of its reduced solubility temperature drops.

(2) Gases formed by the chemical reactions in the weld.

b. Porosity is best prevented by avoiding:

(1) Overheating and undercutting of the weld metal.

(2) Too high a current setting.

(3) Too long an arc.

13-9. GAS WELDING

a. The weld should be of consistent width throughout. The two edges should form straight
parallel lines.
b. The face of the weld should be slightly convex with a reinforcement of not more than
1/16 in. (1.6 mm) above the plate surface. The convexity should be even along the entire
length of the weld. It should not be high in one place and low in another.

c. The face of the weld should have fine, evenly spaced ripples. It should be free of
excessive spatter, scale, and pitting.

d. The edges of the weld should be free of undercut or overlap.

e. Starts and stops should blend together so that it is difficult where they have taken place.

f. The crater at the end of the weld should be filled and show no holes, or cracks.

(1) If the joint is a butt joint, check the back side for complete penetration through
the root of the joint. A slight bead should form on the back side.

(2) The root penetration and fusion of lap and T-joints can be checked by putting
pressure on the upper plate until it is bent double. If the weld has not penetrated
through the root, the plate will crack open at the joint as it is being bent. If it breaks,
observe the extent of the penetration and fusion at the root. It will probably be
lacking in fusion and penetration.

13-10. GAS METAL-ARC WELDING (GMAW) WITH SOLID-CORE WIRE

a. Lack of Penetration. Lack of input in the weld area. This can be penetration is the result
of too little heat corrected by:

(1) Increasing the wire-feed speed and reducing the stickout distance.

(2) Reducing the speed of travel.

(3) Using proper welding techniques.

b. Excessive Penetration. Excessive penetration usually causes burnthrough. It is the result

of too much heat in the weld area. This can be corrected by:

(1) Reducing the wire-feed speed and increasing the speed of travel.

(2) Making sure that the root opening and root face are correct.

(3) Increasing the stickout distance during welding and weaving the gun.

c. Whiskers. Whiskers are short lengths of electrode wire sticking through the weld on the
root side of the joint. They are caused by pushing the electrode wire past the leading edge
of the weld pool. Whiskers can be prevented by:

(1) Reducing the wire-feed speed and the speed of travel.

(2) Increasing the stickout distance and weaving the gun.

d. Voids. Voids are sometimes referred to as wagon tracks because of their resemblance to
ruts in a dirt road. They may be continued along both sides of the weld deposit. They are
found in multipass welding. Voids can be prevented by:

(1) Avoiding a large contoured crown and undercut.

(2) Making sure that all edges are filled in.

(3) On succeeding passes , using slightly higher arc voltage and increasing travel
speed.

e. Lack of Fusion. Lack of fusion, also referred to as cold lap, is largely the result of
improper torch handling, low heat, and higher speed travel. It is important that the arc be
directed at the leading edge of the puddle. To prevent this defect, give careful consideration
to the following:

(1) Direct the arc so that it covers all areas of the joint. The arc, not the puddle,
should do the fusing.

(2) Keep the electrode at the leading edge of the puddle.

(3) Reduce the size of the puddle as necessary by reducing either the travel speed or
wire-feed speed.

(4) Check current values carefully.

f. Porosity. The most common defect in welds produced by any welding process is porosity.
Porosity that exists on the face of the weld is readily detected, but porosity in the weld
metal below the surface must be determined by x-ray or other testing methods. The causes
of most porosity are:

(1) Contamination by the atmosphere and other materials such as oil, dirt, rust, and
paint.

(2) Changes in the physical qualities of the filler wire due to excessive current.

(3) Entrapment of the gas evolved during weld metal solidification.

(4) Loss of shielding gas because of too fast travel.

(5) Shielding gas flow rate too low, not providing full protection.

(6) Shielding gas flow rate too high, drawing air into the arc area.

(7) Wrong type of shielding gas being used.

(8) Gas shield blown away by wind or drafts.

(9) Defects in the gas system.

 (10) Improper welding technique, excessive stickout, improper torch angle, and too
fast removal of the gun and the shielding gas at the end of the weld.

g. Spatter. Spatter is made up of very fine particles of metal on the plate surface adjoining
the weld area. It is usually caused by high current, a long arc, an irregular and unstable arc,
improper shielding gas, or a clogged nozzle.

h. Irregular Weld Shape. Irregular welds include those that are too wide or too narrow,
those that have an excessively convex or concave surface, and those that have coarse,
irregular ripples. Such characteristics may be caused by poor torch manipulation, a speed of
travel that is too slow, current that is too high or low, improper arc voltage, improper
stickout, or improper shielding gas.

i. Undercutting. Undercutting is a cutting away of the base material along the edge of the
weld. It may be present in the cover pass weld bead or in multipass welding. This condition
is usually the result of high current, high voltage, excessive travel speed, low wire-feed
speed, poor torch technique, improper gas shielding or the wrong filler wire. To correct
undercutting, move the gun from side to side in the joint. Hesitate at each side before
returning to the opposite side.

13-11. GAS METAL-ARC WELDING (GMAW) WITH FLUX-CORED WIRE

a. Burn-Through. Burn-through may be caused by the following:

(1) Current too high.

(2) Excessive gap between plates.

(3) Travel speed too s1ow.

(4) Bevel angle too large.

(5) Nose too small.

(6) Wire size too small.

(7) Insufficient metal hold-down or clamping.

b. Crown Too High or Too Low. The crown of the weld may be incorrect due to the following:

(1) Current too high or low.

(2) Voltage too high or low.

(3) Travel speed too high.

(4) Improper weld backing.

(5) Improper spacing in welds with backing.

 (6) Workpiece not level.

c. Penetration Too Deep or Too Shallow. Incorrect penetration may be caused by any of the
following:

(1) Current too high or low.

(2) Voltage too high or low.

(3) Improper gap between plates.

(4) Improper wire size.

(5) Travel speed too slow or fast.

d. Porosity and Gas Pockets. These defects may be the results of any of the following:

(1) Flux too shallow.

(2) Improper cleaning.

(3) Contaminated weld backing.

(4) Improper fitup in welds with manual backing.

(5) Insufficient penetration in double welds.

e. Reinforcement Narrow and Steep-Sloped (Pointed). Narrow and pointed reinforcements

may be caused by the following:

(1) Insufficient width of flux.

(2) Voltage too low.

f. Mountain Range Reinforcement. If the reinforcement is ragged, the flux was too deep.

g. Undercutting. Undercutting may be caused by any of the following:

(1) Travel speed too high.

(2) Improper wire position (fillet welding).

(3) Improper weld backing.

h. Voids and Cracks. These weld deficiencies may be caused by any of the following:

(1) Improper cooling.

(2) Failure to preheat.

 (3) Improper fitup.

(4) Concave reinforcement (fillet weld).

PHYSICAL TESTING

13-12. GENERAL

a. The tests described in this section have been developed to check the skill of the welding
operator as well as the quality of the weld metal and the strength of the welded joint for
each type of metal used in ordnance materiel.

b. Some of these tests, such as tensile and bending tests, are destructive, in that the test
Specimens are loaded until they fail, so the desired information can be gained. Other testing
methods, such as the X-ray and hydrostatic tests, are not destructive.

13-13. ACID ETCH TEST

a. This test is used to determine the soundness of a weld. The acid attacks or reacts with
the edges of cracks in the base or weld metal and discloses weld defects, if present. It also
accentuates the boundary between the base and weld metal and, in this manner, shows the
size of the weld which may otherwise be indistinct. This test is usually performed on a cross
section of the joint.

b. Solutions of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, ammonium per sulfate, or iodine and potassium
iodide are commonly used for etching carbon and low alloy steels.

13-14. GUIDED BEND TEST

The quality of the weld metal at the face and root of the welded joint, as well as the degree
of penetration and fusion to the base metal, are determined by means of guided bend tests.
These tests are made in a jig (fig. 13-1). These test specimens are machined from welded
plates, the thickness of which must be within the capacity of the bending jig. The test
specimen is placed across the supports of the die which is the lower portion of the jig. The
plunger, operated from above by a hydraulic jack or other device, causes the specimen to
be forced into and to assure the shape of the die. To fulfill the requirements of this test, the
specimens must bend 180 degrees and, to be accepted as passable, no cracks greater than
1/8 in. (3.2 mm) in any dimension should appear on the surface. The face bend tests are
made in the jig with the face of the weld in tension (i.e., on the outside of the bend) (A, fig.
13–2). The root bend tests are made with the root of the weld in tension (i. e., on outside of
the bend) (B, fig. 13-2). Guided bend test specimens are also shown the in figure 13-3.
13-15. FREE BEND TEST

a. The free bend test has been devised to measure the ductility of the weld metal deposited
in a weld joint. A test specimen is machined from the welded plate with the weld located as
shown at A, figure 13-4. Each corner lengthwise of the specimen shall be rounded in a
radius not exceeding one-tenth of the thickness of the specimen. Tool marks, if any, shall
be lengthwise of the specimen. Two scribed lines are placed on the face 1/16 in. (1.6 mm)
in from the edge of the weld. The distance between these lines is measured in inches and
recorded as the initial distance X (B, fig. 13-4). The ends of the test specimen are then bent
through angles of about 30 degrees, these bends being approximately one-third of the
length in from each end. The weld is thus located centrally to ensure that all of the bending
occurs in the weld. The specimen bent initially is then placed in a machine capable of
exerting a large compressive force (C, fig. 13-4) and bent until a crack greater than 1/16 in.
(1.6 mm) in any dimension appears on the face of the weld. If no cracks appear, bending is
continued until the specimens 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) thick or under can be tested in vise. Heavier
plate is usually tested in a press or bending jig. Whether a vise or other type of compression
device is used when making the free bend test, it is advisable to machine the upper and
lower contact plates of the bending equipment to present surfaces parallel to the ends of
the specimen (E, fig. 13-4). This will prevent the specimen from slipping and snapping out
of the testing machine as it is bent.
b. After bending the specimen to the point where the test bend is concluded, the distance
between the scribed lines on the specimen is again measured and recorded as the distance
Y. To find the percentage of elongation, subtract the initial from the final distance, divide by
the initial distance, and multiply by 100 (fig. 13-4). The usual requirements for passing this
test are that the minimum elongation be 15 percent and that no cracks greater than 1/16
in. (1.6 mm) in any dimension exist on the face of the weld.

c. The free bend test is being largely replaced by the guided bend test where the required
testing equipment is available.

13-16. BACK BEND TEST

The back bend test is used to determine the quality of the weld metal and the degree of
penetration into the root of the Y of the welded butt joint. The specimens used are similar to
those required for the free bend test (para 13-15) except they are bent with the root of the
weld on the tension side, or outside. The specimens tested are required to bend 90 degrees
without breaking apart. This test is being largely replaced by the guided bend test (para 13-
14).

13-17. NICK BREAK TEST

a. The nick break test has been devised to determine if the weld metal of a welded butt
joint has any internal defects, such as slag inclusions, gas pockets, poor fusion, and/or
oxidized or burnt metal. The specimen is obtained from a welded butt joint either by
machining or by cutting with an oxyacetylene torch. Each edge of the weld at the joint is
slotted by means of a saw cut through the center (fig. 13-5). The piece thus prepared is
bridged across two steel blocks (fig. 13-5) and stuck with a heavy hammer until the section
of the weld between the slots fractures. The metal thus exposed should be completely fused
and free from slag inclusions. The size of any gas pocket must not be greater than 1/16 in.
(1.6 mm) across the greater dimension and the number of gas pockets or pores per square
inch (64.5 sq mm) should not exceed 6.

b. Another break test method is used to determine the soundness of fillet welds. This is the
fillet weld break test. A force, by means of a press, a testing machine, or blows of a
hammer, is applied to the apex of the V shaped specimen until the fillet weld ruptures. The
surfaces of the fracture will then be examined for soundness.

13-18. TENSILE STRENGTH TEST

a. This test is used to measure the strength of a welded joint. A portion of a to locate the
welded plate is locate the weld midway between the jaws of the testing machine (fig. 13–6).
The width thickness of the test specimen are measured before testing, and the area in
square inches is calculated by multiplying these before testing , and the area in square
inches is calculated by multiplying these two figures (see formula, fig. 13-6). The tensile
test specimen is then mounted in a machine that will exert enough pull on the piece to
break the specimen. The testing machining may be either a stationary or a portable type. A
machine of the portable type, operating on the hydraulic principle and capable of pulling as
well as bending test specimens, is shown in figure 13-7. As the specimen is being tested in
this machine, the load in pounds is registered on the gauge. In the stationary types, the
load applied may be registered on a balancing beam. In either case, the load at the point of
breaking is recorded. Test specimens broken by the tensile strength test are shown in figure
13-3.
b. The tensile strength, which is defined as stress in pounds per square inch, is calculated
by dividing the breaking load of the test piece by the original cross section area of the
specimen. The usual requirements for the tensile strength of welds is that the specimen
shall pull not less than 90 percent of the base metal tensile strength.

c. The shearing strength of transverse and longitudinal fillet welds is determined by tensile
stress on the test specimens. The width of the specimen is measured in inches. The
specimen is ruptured under tensile load, and the maximum load in pounds is determined.
The shearing strength of the weld in pounds per linear inch is determined by dividing the
maximum load by the length of fillet weld that ruptured. The shearing strength in pounds
per square inch is obtained by dividing the shearing strength in pounds per linear inch by
the average throat dimension of the weld in inches. The test specimens are made wider
than required and machined down to size.

13-19. HYDROSTATIC TEST

This is a nondestructive test used to check the quality of welds on closed containers such as
pressure vessels and tanks. The test usually consists of filling the vessel with water and
applying a pressure greater than the working pressure of the vessel. Sometimes, large
tanks are filled with water which is not under pressure to detect possible leakage through
defective welds. Another method is to test with oil and then steam out the vessel. Back
seepage of oil from behind the liner shows up visibly.

13-20. MAGNETIC PARTICLE TEST

This is a test or inspection method used on welds and parts made of magnetic alloy steels.
It is applicable only to ferromagnetic materials in which the deposited weld is also
ferromagnetic. A strong magnetic field is set up in the piece being inspected by means of
high amperage electric currents. A leakage field will be set up by any discontinuity that
intercepts this field in the part. Local poles are produced by the leakage field. These poles
attract and hold magnetic particles that are placed on the surface for this purpose. The
particle pattern produced on the surface indicates the presence of a discontinuity or defect
on or close to the surface of the part.

13-21. X-RAY TEST

This is a radiographic test method used to reveal the presence and nature of internal
defects in a weld, such as cracks, slag, blowholes, and zones where proper fusion is lacking.
In practice, an X-ray tube is placed on one side of the welded plate and an X-ray film, with
a special sensitive emulsion, on the other side. When developed, the defects in the metal
show up as dark spots and bands, which can be interpreted by an operator experienced in
this inspection method. Porosity and defective root penetration as disclosed by X-ray
inspection are shown in figure 13-8.
NOTE

Instructions for handling X-ray apparatus to avoid harm to operating personnel are found in
the "American Standard Code for the Industrial Use of X-rays".

13-22. GAMMA RAY TEST

This test is a radiographic inspection method similar to the X-ray method described in
paragraph 13-13, except that the gamma rays emanate from a capsule of radium sulfate
instead of an X-ray tube. Because of the short wave lengths of gamma rays, the penetration
of sections of considerable thickness is possible, but the time required for exposure for any
thickness of metal is much longer than that required for X-rays because of the slower rate
at which the gamma rays are produced. X-ray testing is used for most radiographic
inspections, but gamma ray equipment has the advantage of being extremely portable.

13-23. FLUORESCENT PENETRANT TEST

Fluorescent penetrant inspection is a nondestructive test method by means of which cracks,

pores, leaks, and other discontinuities can be located in solid materials. It is particularly
useful for locating surface defects in nonmagnetic materials such as aluminum, magnesium,
and austenitic steel welds and for locating leaks in all types of welds. This method makes
use of a water washable, highly fluorescent material that has exceptional penetration
qualities. This material is applied to the clean dry surface of the metal to be inspected by
brushing, spraying, or dipping. The excess material is removed by rinsing, wiping with clean
water-soaked cloths, or by sandblasting. A wet or dry type developer is then applied.
Discontinuities in surfaces which have been properly cleaned, treated with the penetrant,
rinsed, and treated with developer show brilliant fluorescent indications under black light.

13-24. HARDNESS TESTS

a. General. Hardness may be defined as the ability of a substance to resist indentation of
localized displacement. The hardness test usually applied is a nondestructive test, used
primarily in the laboratory and not to any great extent in the field. Hardness tests are used
as a means of controlling the properties of materials used for specific purposes after the
desired hardness has been established for the particular application. A hardness test is used
to determine the hardness of weld metal. By careful testing of a welded joint, the hard
areas can be isolated and the extent of the effect of the welding heat on the properties of
the base metal determined.

b. Hardness Testing Equipment.

(1) File test. The simplest method for determining comparative hardness is the file
test. It is performed by running a file under manual pressure over the piece being
tested. Information may be obtained as to whether the metal tested is harder or
softer than the file or other materials that have been given the same treatment.

(2) Hardness testing machines.

(a) General. There are several types of hardness testing machines. Each of
them is singular in that its functional design best lends itself to the particular
field or application for which the machine is intended. However, more than
one type of machine can be used on a given metal, and the hardness values
obtained can be satisfactorily correlated. Two types of machines are used
most commonly in laboratory tests for metal hardness: the Brinell hardness
tester and the Rockwell hardness tester.

(b) Brinell hardness tester. In the Brinell tests, the specimen is mounted on
the anvil of the machine and a load of 6620 lb (3003 kg) is applied against a
hardened steel ball which is in contact with the surface of the specimen being
tested. The steel ball is 0.4 in. (10.2 mm) in diameter. The load is allowed to
remain 1/2 minute and is then released, and the depth of the depression
made by the ball on the specimen is measured. The resultant Brinell hardness
number is obtained by the following formula:

It should be noted that, in order to facilitate the determination of Brinell

hardness, the diameter of the depression rather than the depth is actually
measured. Charts of Brinell hardness numbers have been prepared for a
range of impression diameters. These charts are commonly used to determine
Brinell numbers.

(c) Rockwell hardness tester. The principle of the Rockwell tester is essentially
the same as the Brinell tester. It differs from the Brinell tester in that a lesser
load is impressed on a smaller ball or cone shaped diamond. The depth of the
 indentation is measured and indicated on a dial attached to the machine. The
hardness is expressed in arbitrary figures called "Rockwell numbers." These
are prefixed with a letter notation such as "B" or "C" to indicate the size of the
ball used, the impressed load, and the scale used in the test.

13-25. MAGNAFLUX TEST

a. General. This is a rapid, non-destructive method of locating defects at or near the surface
of steel and its magnetic alloys by means of correct magnetization and the application of
ferromagnetic particles.

b. Basic Principles. For all practical purposes, magnaflux inspection may be likened to the
use of a magnifying glass. Instead of using a glass, however, a magnetic field and
ferromagnetic powders are employed. The method of magnetic particle inspection is based
upon two principles: one, that a magnetic field is produced in a piece of metal when an
electric current is flowed through or around it; two, that minute poles are set up on the
surface of the metal wherever this magnetic field is broken or distorted.

c. When ferromagnetic particles are brought into the vicinity of a magnetized part, they are
strongly attracted by these poles and are held more firmly to them than to the rest of the
surface of the part, thereby forming a visible indication.

13-26. EDDY CURRENT (ELECTROMAGNETIC) TESTING.

a. General. Eddy current (electromagnetic) testing is a nondestructive test method based on

the principle that an electric current will flow in any conductor subjected to a changing
magnetic field. It is used to check welds in magnetic and nonmagnetic materials and is
particularly useful in testing bars, fillets, welded pipe, and tubes. The frequency may vary
from 50 Hz to 1 MHz, depending on the type and thickness of material current methods. The
former pertains to tests where the magnetic permeability of a material is the factor affecting
the test results and the latter to tests where electrical conductivity is the factor involved.

b. Nondestructive testing by eddy current methods involves inducing electric currents (eddy
or foucault currents) in a test piece and measuring the changes produced in those currents
by discontinuities or other physical differences in the test piece. Such tests can be used not
only to detect discontinuities, but also to measure variations in test piece dimensions and
resistivity. Since resistivity is dependent upon such properties as chemical composition
(purity and alloying), crystal orientation, heat treatment, and hardness, these properties
can also be determined indirectly. Electromagnetic methods are classified as
magnetoinductive and eddy current methods. The former pertains to tests where the
magnetic permeability of a material is the factor affecting the test results and the latter to
tests where electrical conductivity is the factor involved.

c. One method of producing eddy currents in a test specimen is to make the specimen the
core of an alternating current (ac) induction coil. There are two ways of measuring changes
that occur in the magnitude and distribution of these currents. The first is to measure the
resistive component of impedance of the exciting coil (or of a secondary test coil), and the
second is to measure the inductive component of impedance of the exciting (or of a
secondary) coil. Electronic equipment has been developed for measuring either the resistive
or inductive impedance components singly or both simultaneously.
d. Eddy currents are induced into the conducting test specimen by alternating
electromagnetic induction or transformer action. Eddy currents are electrical in nature and
have all the properties associated with electric currents. In generating eddy currents, the
test piece, which must be a conductor, is brought into the field of a coil carrying alternating
current. The coil may encircle the part, may be in the form of a probe, or in the case of
tubular shapes, may be wound to fit inside a tube or pipe. An eddy current in the metal
specimen also sets up its own magnetic field which opposes the original magnetic field. The
impedance of the exciting coil, or of a second coil coupled to the first, in close proximity to
the specimen, is affected by the presence of the induced eddy currents. This second coil is
often used as a convenience and is called a sensing or pick up coil. The path of the eddy
current is distorted by the presence of a discontinuity. A crack both diverts and crowds eddy
currents. In this manner, the apparent impedance of the coil is changed by the presence of
the defect. This change can be measured and is used to give an indication of defects or
differences in physical, chemical, and metallurgical structure. Subsurface discontinuities
may also be detected, but the current falls off with depth.

13-27. ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING

a. Acoustic emission testing (AET) methods are currently considered supplementary to other
nondestructive testing methods. They have been applied, however, during proof testing,
recurrent inspections, service, and fabrication.

b. Acoustic emission testing consists of the detection of acoustic signals produced by plastic
deformation or crack formation during loading. These signals are present in a wide
frequency spectrum along with ambient noise from many other sources. Transducers,
strategically placed on a structure, are activated by arriving signals. By suitable filtering
methods, ambient noise in the composite signal is notably reduced. Any source of significant
signals is plotted by triangulation based on the arrival times of these signals at the different
transducers.

13-28. FERRITE TESTING

a. Effects of Ferrite Content. Fully austenitic stainless steel weld deposits have a tendency
to develop small fissures even under conditions of minimal restraint. These small fissures
tend to be located transverse to the weld fusion line in weld passes and base metal that
were reheated to near the melting point of the material by subsequent weld passes. Cracks
are clearly injurious defects and cannot be tolerated. On the other hand, the effect of
fissures on weldment performance is less clear, since these micro-fissures are quickly
blurted by the very tough austenitic matrix. Fissured weld deposits have performed
satisfactorily under very severe conditions. However, a tendency to form fissures generally
goes hand-in-hand with a tendency for larger cracking, so it is often desirable to avoid
fissure-sensitive weld metals.

b. The presence of a small fraction of the magnetic delta ferrite phase in an otherwise
austenitic (nonmagnetic) weld deposit has an influence in the prevention of both centerline
cracking and fissuring. The amount of delta ferrite in as-welded material is largely controlled
by a balance in the weld metal composition between the ferrite-promoting elements
(chromium, silicon, molybdenum, and columbium are the most common) and the austenite-
promoting elements (nickel, manganese, carbon, and nitrogen are the most common).
Excessive delta ferrite, however, can have adverse effects on weld metal properties. The
greater the amount of delta ferrite, the lower will be the weld metal ductility and toughness.
Delta ferrite is also preferentially attacked in a few corrosive environments, such as urea. In
extended exposure to temperatures in the range of 900 to 1700°F (482 to 927°C), ferrite
tends to transform in part to a brittle intermetallic compound that severely embrittles the
weldment.

c. Portable ferrite indicators are designed for on-site use. Ferrite content of the weld deposit
may indicated in percent ferrite and may be bracketed between two values. This provides
sufficient control in most applications where minimum ferrite content or a ferrite range is
specified.