Welding technology analysis

Cracking prevention

Hydrogen-induced cold cracking is a treacherous defect type in the weld seam and in the heat-affected zone – and not merely due of its delayed appearance. Frequent causes include welding filler materials such as SAW fluxes, cored wire electrodes or stick electrodes.

With our accredited analyses (DIN EN ISO 3690), we inspect and qualify weld filler materials with regard to their hydrogen content. We create defined weld specimens and analyze them with the carrier gas hot extraction method or the mercury method.

Cold cracking avoidance

Cold cracks are intercrystalline or transcrystalline material separations in the heat-affected zone or in the weld metal that occur when welding. The general cause is a critical relationship among hydrogen content, mechanical stress and microstructure.

To assess the cold cracking susceptibility of base and filler materials, we offer recognized, self-restraint cold cracking tests, which can also be used for suitability and acceptance testing.

• Tekken test:
  Strict test, especially for base materials. A root pass simulates a restrained butt weld. That butt weld and the heat-affected zone are metallographically analyzed for cracks (applicable standards: DIN EN ISO 17642 and JIS Z 3158 - Japanese industrial standard).
   
• CTS test (Controlled Thermal Severity):
  A fillet weld is produced as a connection of two sheets under specified conditions. Weld metal and heat-affected zone are then metallographically analyzed for cracks. Additionally hardness is determined in both areas. (CTS test according to DIN EN ISO 17642).
   
• WIC test (Welding Institute of Canada):
  Quantitative estimation of cold cracking susceptibility of low-alloy steels in the weld metal and in the heat-affected zone. The main application is the assessment of root pass areas of pipe girth welds (preheat temperature depending on wall thickness). WIC test according to the specification CSA W47.1.

Control instrument in welding technology-based manufacturing

To prevent hydrogen-induced cold cracking, the moisture content of electrode coatings and welding fluxes ideally comply with a specified value.

Both for control during production and for in-process monitoring in welding technology-based manufacturing operations, we offer moisture analysis based on the infrared method (AWS A 4.4M).

Material qualification

Whether it involves pipe or sheet material that meets the prescribed mechanical-technological properties in the heat-affected zone, we inspect with welding tests. These properties are specified in the general regulations (DNV OS-F101, API RP 2Z, DIN EN 10225 or API 1104 etc.) as well as in special customer specifications. We have extensive experience with all standard welding processes: 

• Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) - also fully mechanical out-of-position welding
• Manual metal-arc welding (MMA)
• Submerged arc welding (SAW)
• Tungsten inert gas welding (GTAW)

We offer weldability tests (welding tests) on many base materials:

• Pipeline steels (up to X100)
• Construction steels (up to S1300)
• Cr-Ni steels
• Ni-based materials

In assessing the weldability of steel materials, the tendency of the material to harden in the heat-affected zone is an important criterion. We determine this property quantitatively with a GTA deposition weld.

Welding parameters, preheat temperatures and other conditions are specified in British Standard BS 7363.