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Martensitic Chromium Steels

Some characteristic martensitic Cr steels and their weldability: material designation according EN 10088-1 X12Cr13 X20Cr13 X39CrMo17-1 %C 0.15 0.20 0.42 %Cr 13.0 13.0 16.5 %Mo 1.2 weldability limited strongly limited none

Basically speaking this group of steels must be classified as having only limited weldability since the risk of cold cracking increases as the carbon content rises and joint welds should be avoided where possible. As already mentioned, the most important alloying element is chrome which lends the steels its passivity and thus its corrosion resistance in oxidising media if it accounts for approximately 12% of the content. Chrome as a ferrite-forming element has the effect of narrowing the irons austenitic zone and this is constricted completely with approx. 13% chrome. Steels with chrome contents higher than 13% with very low carbon contents (< 0.1 %) undergo no transformation during cooling from solidification to ambient temperature. These are the ferritic chrome steels. The group of hardenable steels starts with chrome contents above 12 % and carbon contents of approx. 0.1 to 1.2 %. These are the martensitic chrome steels. The austenitic zone is widened by the higher carbon content creating the opportunity for hardening.

Welding of Martensitic Chromium Steels


The austenitic fraction in the heat affected zone of the base metal will always transform into martensite during air cooling as the formation of pearlite and bainite progresses with a significant time delay due to the high chrome content. Due to the steels high chrome content the beginning of pearlite transformation, during which ferrite and carbide are precipitated out of the ? -mixed crystals, takes a long time so that the weld metal and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) practically always transform to the martensitic stage unless the martensitic transformation temperature is exceeded on heating. The unfavourable and inadequate weldability of such steels is easy to understand if one looks at the hardness increment as a function of the carbon content. Hardness increment with different carbon contents: carbon content
Bhler Schweitechnik Austria GmbH. - Mat-Mart Chromium Steels.doc

hardness approx. 40 HRC approx. 46 HRC approx. 50 HRC approx. 53 HRC approx. 56 HRC approx. 58 HRC approx. 60 HRC

0.10 % C 0.15 % C 0.20 % C 0.25 % C 0.40 % C 0.70 % C 1.00 % C

At the same time it becomes understandable why only martensitic Cr steels with less than 0.15 % carbon are usually used in practice for welded structures. Hydrogen also represents a further unfavourable factor when welding. Somewhat higher hydrogen contents may cause a strong tendency towards hydrogen-induced cold cracks in the weld particularly in the presence of brittle martensite. 13% Cr steels are always tempered and 17% Cr steels are always tempered or soft-annealed since the martensite is relatively hard, brittle and at the same time susceptible to corrosion. This group of steels is welded using filler metals of both the same and different composition to the base. Please consult later sections for recommendations regarding the appropriate welding technology and filler metals. The weld metal in the welded condition consists of martensite and -ferrite with small proportions of residual austenite when using filler metals of the same or similar composition to the base.
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For this reason only very low elongation and impact energy values are present and annealing is almost always carried out at 700 to 750C. Welding Technology for steels with carbon contents below 0.15 % Coated stick electrodes and submerged arc flux powders must be re-dried in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Only use filler metals of the same composition as the base if there are requirements for the same colour, comparable strength or alternating strength. Otherwise use austenitic filler metals. A preheat and interpass temperature of 200 - 300C is to be recommended in any case. Carry out postweld tempering at 700 - 750C. Beware when using austenitic filler metals due to the risk of embrittlement. Suitable BHLER filler metals are: microstructure equal different BHLER product FOX KW 10. FOX SKWAM, SKWAM-IG FOX A7 (IG/UP), FOX EAS 2 (IG/UP/FD), FOX CN23/12 (IG/UP/FD)

Bhler Schweitechnik Austria GmbH. - Mat-Mart Chromium Steels.doc

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