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Hadfield steel aging behavior

The microstructural alteration during long-term thermal exposure in the medium temperature range, during which carbides precipitate and drastically reduce the characteristic toughness of the material.

Manganese hard steel only becomes really hard through cold working. When welding, it must not get hot, otherwise you lose exactly this property. If you don't keep the heat under control, the structure will transform and the steel becomes brittle and prone to cracking. Keep the interpass temperature low and cool with compressed air if in doubt. After that, the weld does not need to be annealed, but the steel hardens again during service.

MetallurgieSchweißtechnik

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