Postweld Heat Treatment

Postweld heat treatment (PWHT) shall be pre qualified provided that it shall be approved
by the Engineer and the following conditions shall be met.
(1) The specified minimum yield strength of the base metal shall not exceed 50 ksi [345
MPa].
(2) The base metal shall not be manufactured by quenching and tempering (Q&T),
quenching and self tempering (Q&ST), thermo-mechanical controlled processing
(TMCP) or where cold working is used to achieve higher mechanical properties (e.g.,
certain grades of ASTM A 500 tubing).
(3) There shall be no requirements for notch toughness testing of the base metal, HAZ, or
weld metal.
(4) There shall be data available demonstrating that the weld metal shall have adequate
strength and ductility in the PWHT condition (e.g., as can be found in the relevant AWS
A5.X filler metal specification and classification or from the filler metal manufacturer).

Stress-Relief Heat Treatment

Where required by the contract drawings or specifications, welded assemblies shall be
stress relieved by heat treating. Final machining after stress relieving shall be considered
when needed to maintain dimensional tolerances.
5.8.1 Requirements. The stress-relief treatment shall conform to the following
requirements:
(1) The temperature of the furnace shall not exceed 600°F [315°C] at the time the welded
assembly is placed in it.
(2) Above 600°F, the rate of heating shall not be more than 400F per hour divided by the
maximum metal thickness of the thicker part, in inches, but in no case more than 400°F
per hour. Above 315°C, the rate of heating in °C/hr shall not exceed 5600 divided by the
maximum metal thickness, in millimeters, but not more than 220°C/hr. During the
heating period, variations in temperature throughout the portion of the part being heated
shall be no greater than 250°F [140°C] within any 15 ft [5 m] interval of length. The rates
of heating and cooling need not be less than 100°F [55°C] per hour. However, in all
cases, consideration of closed chambers and complex structures may indicate reduced
rates of heating and cooling to avoid
structural damage due to excessive thermal gradients. (3) After a maximum temperature
of 1100°F [600°C]
is reached on quenched and tempered steels, or a mean temperature range between
1100°F and 1200°F [600°Cand 650°C] is reached on other steels, the temperature of the
assembly shall be held within the specified limits for a time not less than specified in
Table 5.2, based on weld thickness. When the specified stress relief is for dimensional
stability, the holding time shall be not less than specified in Table 5.2, based on the
thickness of the thicker part. During the holding period there shall be no difference
greater than 150°F [85°C] between the highest and lowest temperature throughout the
portion of the assembly being heated.
(4) Above 600°F [315°C], cooling shall be done in a closed furnace or cooling chamber
at a rate no greater
than 500°F [260°C] per hour divided by the maximum metal thickness of the thicker part
in inches, but in no case more than 500°F [260°C] per hour. From 600°F [315°C], the
assembly may be cooled in still air.
5.8.2 Alternative PWHT. Alternatively, when it is impractical to PWHT to the
temperature limitations stated in 5.8.1, welded assemblies may be stress-relieved at lower
temperatures for longer periods of time, as given in Table 5.3.
5.8.3 Steels Not Recommended for PWHT. Stress relieving of weldments of ASTM A
514, ASTM A 517, ASTM A 709 Grades 100 (690) and 100W (690W), and ASTM A
710 steels is not generally recommended. Stress relieving may be necessary for those
applications where weldments shall be required to retain dimensional stability during
machining or where stress corrosion may be involved, neither condition being unique to
Weldments involving ASTM A 514, ASTM A 517, ASTM A 709 Grades 100 (690) and
100W (690W), and ASTM A 710 steels. However, the results of notch toughness tests
have
shown that PWHT may actually impair weld metal and HAZ toughness, and intergranular
cracking may sometimes occur in the grain-coarsened region of the weld HAZ.

C3.14 Postweld Heat Treatment. Historically, the D1.1 requirements for PWHT have
been largely based on experience with ASME Code fabrication of plain carbon-
manganese steels. The structural steel industry is increasingly moving away from carbon
manganese steels to newer steels which are metallurgically more complex such as low
alloy and microalloyed [e.g., Cb(Nb) and V additions] steels. The newer steels can be
furnished in the asrolled condition or with heat treatments such as quenching and
tempering (Q&T), quenching and self-tempering (QST), or thermo-mechanically
controlled processing (TMCP) to obtain higher yield strength. In general, Cb(Nb) and V
additions are not used in pressure vessel steels, and when included, they are usually
restricted to low values. The exception in pressure vessel steels is SA-737 which has
additions of Cb(Nb) or V depending upon the grade. There have been a least seven
Welding Research Council (WRC) Bulletins on topics relevant to the subjects of PWHT
and microalloyed steels. A summary
of the overall conclusions indicates that:
(1) PWHT (at 1150°F [620°C] for a few hours) of asrolled or normalized carbon-
manganese and low alloy
steels (having a 50 ksi [345 MPa] or lower yield strength) does not adversely affect
strength. PWHT, regardless of temperature or duration, degrades the notch toughness of
Cb(Nb) or V microalloyed base metals and HAZs. Degradation varies in severity and
may or may not affect the suitability for service.
(2) Steels manufactured by Q&T, QST, or TMCP processing need to have the
development of their PWHT
based on the specific material and processing. PWHT may reduce strength and notch
toughness properties. The response to PWHT is very dependent on composition. Some
Japanese data indicate that 1025°F [550°F] may be a more appropriate PWHT
temperature for certain TMCP steels. The optimum PWHT temperature is dependent on
specific composition, strength, and notch toughness requirements.
(3) ASTM A 710 Grade A, age hardening Ni, Cu, Cr, Mo, Cb(Nb) steel is susceptible to
cracking in the HAZ during PWHT. Grades B and C have not been studied. Some grades
of ASTM A 514/A 517 are marginal for PWHT due to low ductility and possible HAZ
cracking during PWHT as well as loss of strength and toughness. Some specifications
place specific limits on PWHT such as ASTM A 913 or “High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel
Shapes of Structural Quality, Produced by the Quenching and Self-Tempering Process
(QST)” which requires that “shapes shall not be formed and postweld heat treated at
temperatures exceeding 1100°F [600°F].” The API offshore structures specifications 2W
for TMCP
steels and 2Y for Q&T steels have similar warnings regarding “Post Manufacturing
Heating” which need to be considered when PWHT is contemplated.

Minimum Preheat and Interpass

Temperature Requirements
The preheat and interpass temperature shall be sufficient to prevent cracking. Table 3.2
shall be used to determine the minimum preheat and interpass temperatures for steels
listed in the code.
3.5.1 Base Metal/Thickness Combination. The minimum preheat or interpass
temperature applied to a joint composed of base metals with different minimum preheats
from Table 3.2 (based on Category and thickness) shall be the highest of these minimum
preheats.
3.5.2 Alternate SAW Preheat and Interpass Temperatures.
Preheat and interpass temperatures for parallel or multiple electrode SAW shall be
selected in conformance
with Table 3.2. For single-pass groove or fillet welds, for combinations of metals being
welded and the
heat input involved, and with the approval of the Engineer, preheat and interpass
temperatures may be established which are sufficient to reduce the hardness in the HAZs
of the base metal to less than 225 Vickers hardness number for steel having a minimum
specified tensile strength not exceeding 60 ksi [415 MPa], and 280 Vickers hardness
number for steel having a minimum specified tensile strength greater than 60 ksi [415
MPa], but not exceeding 70 ksi [485 MPa]. Note: The Vickers hardness number shall be
determined in conformance with ASTM E 92. If another method of hardness is to be used,
the equivalent hardness number shall be determined from ASTM ET 40, and testing shall
be performed according to the applicable ASTM specification.

3.5.2.1 Hardness Requirements.

Hardness determination of the HAZ shall be made on the following:
(1) Initial macroetch cross sections of a sample test specimen.
(2) The surface of the member during the progress of the work. The surface shall be
ground prior to hardness testing:

(a) The frequency of such HAZ testing shall be at least one test area per weldment of the
thicker metal
involved in a joint of each 50 ft [15 m] of groove welds or pair of fillet welds.
(b) These hardness determinations may be discontinued after the procedure has been
established and the
discontinuation is approved by the Engineer.

4.7.4 Preheat and Interpass Temperature. The minimum preheat and interpass
temperature should be established on the basis of steel composition as shown in Table
3.1. Alternatively, recognized methods of prediction or guidelines such as those provided
in Annex XI, or other methods may be used. Preheat and interpass temperatures lower
than required per Table 3.2 or calculated per Annex XI may be used provided they are
approved by the Engineer and qualified by WPS testing. The methods of Annex XI are
based on laboratory cracking tests and may predict preheat temperatures higher than the
minimum temperature shown in Table 3.2. Annex XI may be of value in identifying
situations where the risk of cracking is increased due to composition, restraint, hydrogen
level or lower welding heat input where higher preheat may be warranted. Alternatively,
Annex XI may assist in defining conditions under which hydrogen cracking is unlikely
and where the minimum requirements of Table 3.2 may be safely relaxed.
Preheat and Interpass
Temperatures
Base metal shall be preheated, if required, to a temperature not less than the minimum
value listed on the
WPS (see 3.5 for prequalified WPS limitations and Table 4.5 for qualified WPS essential
variable limitations). For combinations of base metals, the minimum preheat shall be
based on the highest minimum preheat. This preheat and all subsequent minimum
interpass temperatures shall be maintained during the welding operation for a distance at
least equal to the thickness of the thickest welded part (but not less than 3 in. [75 mm]) in
all directions from the point of welding. Minimum interpass temperature requirements
shall be considered equal to the preheat requirements, unless otherwise indicated on the
WPS. The preheat and interpass temperature shall be checked just prior to initiating the
arc for each pass. The principle of applying heat until a certain temperature is reached
and then maintaining that temperature as a minimum is used to control the cooling rate of
weld metal and adjacent base metal. The higher temperature allows more rapid hydrogen
diffusion and reduces the tendency for cold cracking. The entire part or only the metal in
the vicinity of the joint to be welded may be preheated (see Table 3.2). For a given set of
welding conditions, cooling rates will be faster for a weld made without preheat than for
a weld made with preheat. The higher preheat temperatures result in slower cooling rates.
When cooling is sufficiently slow, it will effectively reduce hardening and cracking. For
quenched and tempered steels, slow cooling is not
desirable and is not recommended by the steel producer. It should be emphasized that
temperatures in Table
3.2 are minimum temperatures, and preheat and interpass temperatures shall be
sufficiently high to ensure sound welds. The amount of preheat required to slow down
cooling rates so as to produce crack-free, Ductile joints will depend on:
(1) The ambient temperature
(2) Heat from the arc
(3) Heat dissipation of the joint
(4) Chemistry of the steel (weldability)
(5) Hydrogen content of deposited weld metal
(6) Degree of restraint in the joint
Point 1 is considered above.
Point 2 is not presently considered in the code.
Point 3 is partly expressed in the thickness of material.
Point 4 is expressed indirectly in grouping of steel designations.
Point 5 is presently expressed either as nonlow hydrogen welding process or a low
hydrogen welding process.
Point 6 is least tangible and only the general condition is recognized in the provisions of
Table 3.2.
Based on these factors, the requirements of Table 3.2 should not be considered all-
encompassing, and the emphasis on preheat and interpass temperatures as being
minimum temperatures assumes added validity.
Caution should be used in preheating quenched and tempered steel, and the heat input
shall not exceed the
steel producer’s recommendation (see 5.7).