Weldability of Modern Steel Materials.

Abstract

Modern steels like TMCP or HSLA steels are excellent structural material for many engineering applications. Exploitation of physical strengthening mechanisms enables lowering of carbon and alloying element's content and improves weldability remarkably. On the other hand demands for higher welding efficiency requires higher and higher heat inputs which, in turn, favours softer transformation products like upper or granular bainite in the weld HAZ. Grain growth and the M-A constituent present in that structure are the main reason of toughness deterioration in the weld area. Paper brings an analysis of the effect of grain growth and as welded microstructure on notch toughness of as welded and PWHT welds.