Metallurgical Control of Hydrogen Induced Cracking in High Strength Steel Weldments

Abstract

Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) is still a major problem encountered during the welding of high strength structural steels. Historically, the risk of HIC has been greatest in the HAZ of the parent metal as a result of the rapid cooling rate experienced during the welding thermal cycle. However, steelmakers have made considerable improvements in terms of solving HAZ hydrogen cracking problems and have implemented strategies involving carbon and alloy control, controlled rolling schedules, on-line accelerated cooling, and so on. However, as we move to steels which have higher yield strength hydrogen-induced cracking problems will shift from the HAZ to the weld metal. HIC formed in weld metal was reported by Flanigan et al [1] for the first time.