1.

Weldability of Metals

1. Weldability of Metals DIN 8580 and DIN 8595 classify welding into production technique main group 4 "Joining, group 3.6 "Joining by welding, Figure 1.1.

Production Techniques DIN 8580

Main group 1 Forming

Main group 2 Deforming

Main group 3 Separating

Main group 4 Joining DIN 8593

Main group 5 Plating

Main group 6 Changing material characteristics

Group 4.1 Assembling

Group 4.2 Filling

Group 4.3 Pressing

Group 4.4 Joining by forming

Group 4.5 Joining by deforming

Group 4.6 Joining by welding

Group 4.7 Joining by soldering

Group 4.8 Bonding

Sub-group 4.6.1 Pressure welding

Sub-group 4.6.2 Fusion welding

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Classification of Production Techniques to DIN 8580

Figure 1.1

Weldability of a component is determined by three outer features according to DIN 8528, Part 1. This also indicates whether a given joining job can be done by welding, Figure 1.2.
ility sib os g p ture ldin fac We anu M
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Material Welding suitability

Weldability of a component
in De g saf sig ety n
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Influencing Factors on Weldability to DIN 8528 Part 1

Figure 1.2

We ld

1. Weldability of Metals Material influence on weldability, i.e. welding suitability, can be detailed for a better 1.3. The chemical composition of a material and also its metallurgical properties are mainly set during its production, Figure 1.4. They have a very strong influence on the physical characteristics of the material.
Figure 1.3

understanding

in

three subdefinitions, Figure

Process steps on steel manufacturing, shown in Figure 1.4, are the essential steps on the way to a processible and usable material. During manufacture, the requested chemical composition (e.g. by alloying) and metallurgiBlast furnace: Reduction of ore to raw iron Intake of C, S, and P

cal properties (e.g. type of teeming) of the steel are obtained. Another modification of the material behaviour takes place during subsequent treatment, where the raw material is rolled to processible semi-finished goods, e.g. like strips, plates, bars, profiles, etc.. With the rolling process, material-typical transformation processes, hardening and precipitation processes are used to adjust an optimised material charac-

Top-blow (BOF)-, bottom blow (OBM)-, stirrerconverter

Converter: Removal of C and P through oxygen and CaO

Injection of solid material or feeding cored wires

Ladle treatment: Alloying and vacuum degassing (removal of N2, H2, CO/CO2) Ladle treatment electrically heated

Continuous casting: casting of billets, blooms, slabs

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teristics (see chapter 2).

Important Process Steps During Steel Production

Figure 1.4

1. Weldability of Metals

A survey from quality point of view about the influence of the most important alloy elements to some mechanical and metallurgical properties is shown in Figure 1.5.

Si
+ +

Mn
+ +

P
+ +

S
(-)

O
+ +

Cr
+ +

Ni
+ +

Al
+

Tensile strength
Hardness
Charpy-V-toughness

+ + -

+
--

++

(-)

++

Hot cracking Creep resistance

Critical cooling rate Formation of seggregations
Formation of inclusions
+(-400C) +
(+) ++

(+) ++ ++

(-)

+ -

+ -

+ + + with Al +

+ + with Mn with S

+ Increase of property ++ Strong increase of property

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--

Decrease of property Strong decrease of property

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Influence of Alloy Elements on Some Steel Properties

Figure 1.5

Figure 1.6 depicts the decisive importance of the carbon content to suitability of fusion welding of mild steels. A guide number of flawless fusion weldability is a carbon content of C < 0,22 %. with higher C contents, there is a
E355 (St 60), C35 (C 35) about 0,40

Material
S185 (St 33) [EN 10 025]

C-content (%) (Melt analysis)

unlimited (up to 0,30) up to 0,21 up to 0,17 up to 0,22 up to 0,18 (up to 0,24)

Fusion weldability
Not guaranteed, however mostly no problem with low C-content up to 0,22% C: good weldable (exception: plate thickness <0,5 mm, special order condtions), as long as content of impurities (P,S etc.) not too high

S250GT (St 34), S235JR (St 37), S275JR (St 42) [EN 10 025] L235GT (St 35), L275GT (St 45) [Steels for tubing EN 10 208] P235GH (H I), P265GH (H II), P285NH (H III) [Steels for pressure vessel construction EN10 028] C10 (C 10), C15 (C 15), C22 (C 22) [Case hardening and tempering steels EN 10 083] S355J0 (St 52) E295 (St 50) Steel for mechanical engineering

up to 0,22 and higher contents of Mn and Si unlimited, about 0,30

Weldable Restricted weldability with electric arc methods, no gas welding of thin plates.

danger of hardening, and welding becomes only possible by observing special precautions (e.g. pre- and post-weld heat treatment).
Figure 1.6
E360 (St 70), C45 (C 45)
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Weldable with special electrodes and mostly pre- and post-welding heat treatment. Very restricted weldability in spite of special measures
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about 0,50

Fusion Weldability of Unalloyed Quality Steels

1. Weldability of Metals

In addition to material behaviour, weldability is also essentially determined through the design of a component. The influence of the design is designated as welding safety, Figure 1.7.

Welding Safety

(Welding safety due to design)

Design
e.g. Power flow in workpiece Arrangement of joints Material thickness Notch effect Stiffness differences

Stress condition
e.g. Type and Level of strain in workpiece Dimensional degree of strain Stress speed Temperature Corrosion

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Welding Safety

Figure 1.7

Welding Possibility

The influence of the manufacturing process to weldability is called welding possibility, Figure 1.8. For example, a preand post-weld heat treatment is not always possible, or grinding the weld surface before welding the subsequent pass cannot be carried out (narrow gap welding).
Figure 1.8
Welding preparation
e.g. Welding method Consumble type and auxiliaries Joint type Groove shape Preheating Actions in the case of unfavourable weather conditions
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(welding possibility due to manufacture)

Execution of welding
e.g. Heat control Heat input Welding sequence

Post-treatment
e.g. Post-weld heat treatment Grinding Pickling

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Welding Possibility