Heat Treatment Condition
The heat treatment condition defines the thermal pre-treatment or post-treatment of the component, which deliberately adjusts the microstructure and mechanical properties of the matrix. It is particularly essential after welding high-strength steels for stress reduction.
The heat treatment condition determines how the steel's microstructure looks and how it behaves during welding. Depending on the condition, the material can become hard and brittle after welding or build up stresses that lead to cracks. When welding high-strength steel, you need to know whether it's quenched and tempered or normalized, because that determines the preheat and whether you need post-weld heat treatment. For thick or highly restrained components, stress-relief annealing is often mandatory to restore toughness. Stick to the specifications in the data sheet, otherwise you'll quickly have a hairline crack in the component.