Precipitation Compensation
The physical compensation of strength losses through controlled re-incorporation of secondary phases during long-term thermal exposure.
Precipitation compensation is a topic you mainly know from creep-resistant steels and components that get hot in service. When the structure ages, the mechanical properties can deteriorate, and that's exactly what you want to compensate for with welding. The heat from welding can put the structure back into a more favorable state, but you have to be careful not to put in too much energy and soften the material as a result. If you don't do it right, you risk the weld and heat-affected zone becoming brittle or cracking later under load. Especially with thick plates or when the component is exposed to high temperatures in service, you shouldn't take it lightly. The exact conditions depend heavily on the steel grade, so when in doubt, check the data sheet or ask the foreman.