L&T Heavy Engineering

Importance of Preheat/
DHT / ISR/ PWHT

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Weld Metal Solidification

• Columnar Grains
• Shrinkage - Residual Stresses
Effects
• Low Ductility HEAT FLOW

• Inhomogeneous Structure
Properties
• Coarse Grains - Low Impacts
• Inclusions - Low Impacts
• H2 Entrapment - Cracking
• Residual Stresses - Distortion
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Weld Metal vs. Base Metal

WELD METAL BASE METAL

1. Columnar Grain 1. Polygonal Equiaxed

2. Segregation 2. Homogeneous
3. Oxides – Sulphide Inclusions 3. Steel Making Process Benefits
4. Solidified Structure 4. Rolled / Forged Structure
5. Limitations On Heat Treatment 5. Proper Heat Treatment
6. Entrapped Gases 6. No Entrapments
7. Different Hardenability 7. _________
8. Different Thermal Cycles 8. Uniform Heat Treatment Cycles
9. Weld Defects Higher Chances 9. __________

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What Is Preheating?
• Heating the base metal along the weld joint to a
predetermined minimum temperature immediately
before starting the weld.

• Heating by Oxy fuel flame or electric resistant coil

• Heating from opposite side of welding wherever possible

• Temperature to be verified by thermo chalks prior to

starting the weld

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Why Preheating?
• Preheating eliminates possible cracking of weld and
HAZ

• Applicable to
– Hardenable low alloy steels of all thickness
– Carbon steels of thickness above 25 mm.
– Restrained welds of all thickness

• Preheating temperature vary from 75°C to 200°C

depending on hardenability of material, thickness &
joint restraint

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How does Preheating Eliminate Crack?

• Preheating promotes slow cooling of weld and HAZ

• Slow cooling softens or prevents hardening of weld

and HAZ

• Soft material not prone to crack even in restrained

condition

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Typical Preheat Temperature

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What Is Interpass Temperature?

• The temperature of a previously layed weld bead
immediately before depositing the next bead over it

• Temperature to be verified by thermo chalk prior to

starting next bead

• Applicable to
– Stainless Steel
– Carbon Steel & LAS
with minimum impact

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Why Interpass Temperature?
• Control on inter pass temperature avoids over heating,
there by
– Refines the weld metal with fine grains
– Reduces grain coarsening in Ferritic steel– better impact
toughness
– Reduces the distortion
– Reduces chance of IGC in Austenitic SS

• Typical Interpass temp:

– C-Mn Steel : 275°C
– Low Alloy steel : 250°C
– Austenitic SS : 175-200°C
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Effect of Preheat / Interpass Temp

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What Is Post Heating?

• Raising the pre heating temperature of the weld joint
to a predetermined temperature range (250° C to 350°
C) for a minimum period of time (3 Hrs) before the
weld cools down to room temperature.

• Post heating performed when welding is completed or

terminated any time in between.

• Heating by Oxy fuel flame or electric resistant coil

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What Is Post Heating?

• Heating from opposite side of welding wherever
possible

• Temperature verified by thermo chalks during the

period

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 L&T Heavy Engineering

Why Post Heating?

• Post heating eliminates possible delayed cracking of
weld and HAZ

• Applicable to
- Thicker hardenable low alloy steels
- Restrained hardenable welds of all thickness

• Post heating temperature and duration depends on

hardenability of material, thickness & joint restrain

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How does Post Heating Eliminate Crack?

• SMAW introduces hydrogen in weld metal

• Entrapped hydrogen in weld metal induces delayed

cracks unless removed before cooling to room
temperature

• Retaining the weld at a higher temperature for a

longer duration allows the hydrogen to come out of
weld

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What Is Intermediate Stress Relieving?

• Heat treating a subassembly in a furnace to a
predetermined cycle immediately on completion of
critical restrained weld joint / joints without allowing
the welds to go down the pre heat temperature.

• Rate of heating, Soaking temperature, Soaking time

and rate of cooling depends on material quality and
thickness

• Applicable to
Highly restrained air hardenable material

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Why Intermediate Stress Relieving?

• Restrained welds in air hardenable steel highly prone
to crack on cooling to room temperature.

• Cracks due to entrapped hydrogen and built in stress

• “Intermediate stress relieving” relieves built in

stresses and entrapped hydrogen making the joint
free from crack prone

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What Is Post Weld Heat Treatment?

• Heat treating an assembly on completion of all
applicable welding, in an enclosed furnace with
controlled heating/cooling rate and soaking at a
specific temperature for a specific time.

• Rate of heating, Soaking temperature, Soaking time

and rate of cooling depends on material quality and
thickness

• Applicable to
– All type of CS & LAS

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Why Post Weld Heat Treatment?
• Welded joints retain internal stresses within the
structure

• HAZ of welds remains invariably hardened

• “Post Weld Heat Treatment” relieves internal stresses

and softens HAZ. This reduces the cracking tendency
of the equipment in service

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Thanks

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