← Glossary

Secondary Cementite Precipitation

The precipitation of iron carbide at austenitic grain boundaries during slow cooling below the solubility limit of the Acm line.

Secondary cementite forms at the grain boundaries during slow cooling. This makes the steel hard and brittle, and machining becomes tough. When welding, you have to control the cooling so that the structure remains uniform. If you cool the part too slowly, you get uneven grain and the risk of cracks increases. So: control the cooling, then the structure stays clean.

MetallurgieSchweißtechnik

AI Transparency (EU AI Act): Created on the basis of our own many years of practical experience in welding technology, with the help of AI, and reviewed editorially.

© 2026 Welder-World. All content is for training and continuing education and does not replace a certified welding procedure specification.