8/11/2014 FAQ: Which is important - preheat or interpass?

Accessibility | Text Only | Site Map About Us | Find Us | Careers | Training | Register | Log In

Search
A-Z Services index
Advanced search

Home Technologies Industries Services News & Events Membership Technical Knowledge Contact Us

Home > Technical Knowledge > FAQs > Process FAQs > FAQ: Which is important - preheat or interpass? Share:

Technical Knowledge Which is important - preheat or interpass?

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
Process FAQs Preheat is the temperature to which the surfaces to be welded together are heated, before welding
commences. Interpass temperature is the temperature at which subsequent weld runs are deposited.
Procedures can specify a maximum interpass temperature, which is done to control weld metal microstructural
FAQ: Which is important -
development, and also ensures that the weld is similar to the welds made in the procedure qualification.
preheat or interpass?
Minimum interpass temperatures are maintained to control hydrogen cracking, and in most cases are similar to
the preheat temperature.

All the weld runs in a joint will have the same hydrogen input, cooling capacity and composition, and therefore
similar preheat (minimum interpass) requirements, dependent on heat input, to avoid hydrogen cracking . A
possible exception to this would be the root pass, which may have a higher stress concentration than the
remainder of the joint, and so the root region may require a higher preheat than the minimum interpass
temperature of the filling passes.

Some materials need the interpass temperature to be maintained for a period of time to encourage hydrogen
escape from the material between passes. In these cases, the minimum interpass temperature is the minimum
temperature reached between passes, rather than the minimum temperature at which any run is deposited. As
increasing numbers of passes are deposited, the hydrogen in the weld has further to diffuse before reaching a
free surface, so hydrogen is more likely to become trapped in the steel and to be the cause of cracking upon
final cooling. Thus, maintaining interpass temperature for a longer period of time may reduce the need for
postheat after welding, as the hydrogen is encouraged to difffuse out of the weld during the welding operation.

For high alloy materials, it can be important to allow the weld to cool to below the transformation temperature
between passes, as too high an interpass temperature will allow the weld to remain austenitic. Hydrogen has a
higher solubility in austenite than ferrite, and also a slower diffusion rate, so if the weld is austenitic throughout
welding, less hydrogen will escape from the steel and cracking may occur upon final transformation. The
transformation from austenite to ferrite between passes also allows microstructural refinement or tempering,
from heating by subsequent passes.

It is necessary to select a method of preheat control which is appropriate to the welding operation. For
example, when there is a need for stringent interpass control, certain preheating methods, such as local
preheating ahead of the moving welding torch, which can allow the interpass temperature to fall below the
http://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/process-faqs/faq-which-is-important-preheat-or-interpass/ 1/2
8/11/2014 FAQ: Which is important - preheat or interpass?
minimum interpass temperature, are not suitable.

Technologies Industries Services Group Companies

Welding, Surface Engineering Oil and Gas Technical Enquiries TWI Training Plant Integrity
and Material Processing
Power Welding Engineering TWI Certification The Test House
Structural Integrity Aerospace Information Services The Welding Institute Structural Integrity
Material Properties Research Foundation
Engineering and Fabrication Research and Consultancy TWI Software
NDT and Asset Reliability Automotive Training and Examination TWI China
See more >> See more >>

TW I Ltd, Granta Park , Gre at Abington, C am bridge , C B21 6AL, Unite d Kingdom Te l: +44 (0)1223 899000
C opyright © 2014 TW I Ltd. All rights re se rve d. About Us | C are e rs | Find Us | Procure m e nt | Te rm s and C onditions | Privacy and C ook ie s

http://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/process-faqs/faq-which-is-important-preheat-or-interpass/ 2/2