Post Weld Heat Treatment

A targeted thermal process following the completion of welding work that relieves residual stresses, increases toughness, and supports diffusion processes to prevent cracking.

After welding, the part is under stress, the material at the weld is hard and brittle. Tempering or stress-relief annealing heats the workpiece evenly and then lets it cool slowly. This restores the toughness of the structure and reduces internal stresses. If you skip this, the weld can crack or the workpiece can distort. When tempering, make sure the part cools slowly and evenly, preferably in an oven. For critical components or high-alloy materials, you have to keep a close eye on the temperature control; nothing is left to chance.

MetallurgieSchweißtechnik