Hydrogen Cracking
http://www.sale-associates.com/newpage2.htm
Hydrogen Cracking
[ Home ] [ Up ]
Hydrogen cracking
Hydrogen cracking also known as cold cracking or delayed cracking. The main feature of this type of crack is that it occurs in ferritic weldable steels,
and generally occurs immediately on welding or after a short time after welding, but usually within 48hrs.
Identification
Visual appearance of Hydrogen Cracking
Hydrogen cracks can be usually have the following characteristics:
In C-Mn steels, the crack will normally originate in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) but may also extend into the weld metal (Fig 1).
Cracks may also occur in the weld bead, normally transverse to the welding direction at an angle of 45 to the weld surface. They are near straight,
follow a jagged path.
In low alloy steels, the cracks can be transverse to the weld, perpendicular to the surface of the weld, but do not branch and are planar (Planar
Defect).
On breaking open the weld, the surface of the cracks will normally not be oxidised, even if they are surface breaking, indicating they were formed when
the weld was at or near ambient temperature. A slight blue tinge may be seen from the effects of preheating or welding heat.
Metallography
Cracks, which originate in the HAZ, are usually associated with the coarse grain region, (Fig 1). The cracks can be intergranular, transgranular or a
mixture. Intergranular cracks are more likely to occur in the harder HAZ structures formed in low alloy and high carbon steels. Transgranular cracking is
more often found in C-Mn steel structures.
In fillet welding, cracks in the HAZ are usually associated with the weld root and parallel to the
weld. In butt welds, the HAZ cracks are normally oriented parallel to the weld bead. Fig. 1
Hydrogen Crack along the coarse grain structure in the HAZ (note hardness values).
Possible Causes
There are three factors, which can cause hydrogen cracking:
Hydrogen generated by the welding process, or by contamination of the weld area (paint?).
A hard brittle structure, which is susceptible to cracking.
Residual tensile stresses acting on the welded joint (restraint).
Cracking is caused by the diffusion of hydrogen to the highly stressed, hardened part of the weldment.
In C-Mn steels, because there is a greater risk of forming a brittle microstructure in the HAZ, most of the hydrogen cracks are likely to be found in the
parent metal. Using the correct choice of electrodes, the weld metal will have a lower carbon content than the parent metal and, hence, a lower carbon
equivalent (CE). However, transverse weld metal cracks can occur especially when welding thick sections.
In low alloy steels, as the weld metal structure is more susceptible than the HAZ, cracking may be found in the weld bead.
The effects of specific factors on the risk of cracking are::
Weld metal hydrogen
Parent material composition
Parent material thickness
Stresses acting on the weld
Heat input
Weld metal hydrogen content
1 of 3
12/10/2011 8:38 PM
Hydrogen Cracking
http://www.sale-associates.com/newpage2.htm
One of the principal source of hydrogen is the moisture contained in the flux ie the coating of MMA electrodes, the flux in cored wires and the flux used
in submerged arc welding. Mainly the electrode type determines the amount of hydrogen generated. Basic electrodes normally generate less hydrogen
than rutile and cellulosic electrodes.
It is important to note that there can be other significant sources of hydrogen eg moisture from the atmosphere or from the material where processing or
service history has left the steel with a significant level of hydrogen. Hydrogen may also be derived from the surface of the material or the consumable,
or from oil and paint etc,.
Sources of hydrogen include:
Oil, grease and dirt
Rust
Paint and coatings
Cleaning fluids
Parent metal composition
This has a major influence on hardenability and, with high cooling rates, the risk of forming a hard brittle structure in the HAZ. The hardenability of a
material is usually expressed in terms of its carbon content or, when other elements are taken into account, its carbon equivalent (CE) value.
The higher the CE value, the greater the risk of hydrogen cracking. Generally, steels with a CE value of <0.4 are not susceptible to HAZ hydrogen
cracking as long as low hydrogen welding consumables or processes are used.
Material thickness
Material thickness will influence the cooling rate and therefore the hardness level, microstructure produced in the HAZ and the level of hydrogen
retained in the weld.
The 'combined thickness' of the joint, i.e. the sum of the thicknesses of material meeting at the joint line, will determine, together with the joint
geometry, the cooling rate of the HAZ and its hardness. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 3, a fillet weld will have a greater risk than a butt weld in the
same material thickness.
Fig.3 Combined thickness measurements for butt and fillet
joints (general guide only)
Stresses which act on the weld
The stresses generated across the welded joint as it contracts will be greatly influenced by external restraint, material thickness, joint geometry and
fit-up. Areas of stress concentration are more likely to initiate a crack at the toe and root of the weld.
Poor fit-up in fillet welds markedly increases the risk of cracking. The degree of restraint acting on a joint will generally increase as welding progresses
due to the increase in stiffness of the fabrication.
Heat input
The heat input to the material from the welding process, together with the material thickness and preheat temperature, will determine the thermal cycle
and the resulting microstructure and hardness of both the HAZ and weld metal.
A high heat input will reduce the hardness level.
Heat input per unit length is calculated by multiplying the arc energy by an arc efficiency factor according to the following formula:
V = arc voltage (V)
A = welding current (A)
S = welding speed (mm/min)
k = thermal efficiency factor
In calculating heat input, the arc efficiency must be taken into consideration. The arc efficiency factors given in BS EN 1011-1: 1998 for the principal
arc welding processes, are:
Submerged arc
(single wire)
MMA
2 of 3
1.0
0.8
12/10/2011 8:38 PM
Hydrogen Cracking
http://www.sale-associates.com/newpage2.htm
MIG/MAG and flux cored wire 0.8
TIG and plasma
0.6
In MMA or stick welding, heat input is normally controlled by means of the run-out length from each electrode which is proportional to the heat input.
As the run-out length is the length of weld deposited from one electrode, it will depend upon the welding technique eg weave width /dwell.
This is the first of a new series of technical papers to be produced for our web site.
[ Home ]
3 of 3
12/10/2011 8:38 PM
