Quenching Severity
Quench intensity indicates how quickly a cooling medium removes heat. It influences the structure and mechanical properties of the weld metal.
Physical-Chemical Mechanism of Action
The quenching intensity of a cooling medium is a measure of its heat removal rate. The higher the quenching intensity, the faster the weld metal cools down.
Metallurgical Relevance & Risks in Welding
The quenching intensity influences the microstructure of the weld metal. A too high quenching intensity can lead to glass-hard martensite, which reduces toughness and formability and promotes cracking. A too low value coarsens the grain and lowers strength.
Workshop Practice & Action Instructions
To achieve an optimal quenching intensity, choose a cooling medium with the right heat removal rate. For steel welds, a quenching intensity of 100-200 W/m²K is common. Avoid cooling too fast (t8/5 < 5 s) and cooling too slow (t8/5 > 25 s).