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Carbon

Carbon is a key alloying element in steels that increases strength and hardenability through solid solutions and carbides.

Physical-Chemical Mechanism of Action

Carbon reacts with iron in the molten weld pool to form various solid solutions and carbides. These compounds strongly affect the mechanical properties of the steel.

Metallurgical Relevance & Welding Risks

A carbon content that's too high (above 0.7%) leads to high martensite fraction and raises the risk of hot cracking. Too low a carbon content can result in a too-soft structure, which cuts toughness.

Shop Practice & Action Points

Make sure the carbon content stays in the sweet spot (about 0.3% to 1.2%). When welding high-carbon steels, cool slowly to avoid hot cracks. For low-carbon steels, use fast cooling to bump up toughness.

MetallurgieSchweißtechnik

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