Weldability of metals

Metallurgy and weldability of

Nickel and Nickel alloys
Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

General
Monophasic structure FCC type
High solubility for many elements:
Ni and Cu are completely soluble one another
Ni and Cr up to 40%
Mo up to 20%
Carbon has low solubility into Ni: for %C above 0,24% graphite
precipitation can occur
Pure Ni caracteristics:
Melting point Tf = 1455C
Rm = 308 MPa
Rp0,2 = 105 MPa
thermal expansion coefficient similar to ferritic-pearlitic carbon
steels
Alloys containing Ni > 30% are defined Ni alloys

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

General

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Types of alloys
Mechanical properties of Ni can be improved by adding several elements,
in various heat treated conditions:
Solid Solution alloys: some elements, with good solubility improve
mechanical properties and corrosion resistance properties. They have
good weldability.
Precipitation hardenable alloys: some elements with very poor
solubility, form intermetallic compounds with Ni and precipitate in micro
dispersed form, after proper heat treatment (ageing). For example:
Ni3Al (defined as come )
Ni3Ti; Ni3Nb (defined as come )
These alloys have not good weldability. Precipitates make the structure
brittle.
Dispersion strengthened alloys: insoluble powders are added to the
Ni matrix. These alloys are not weldable. Brazing is necessary to joint
them.

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Types of alloys

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Types of alloys

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Weldability - General remarks

Medium grain diameter affects weldability (coarse grain alloys e.g. -

ASTM Grado 5 or lower - provide worse weldability)
Microcracks formation in welding (WM e HAZ)- Underskin cracks
Better weldability is connected to annealed conditions. High cold strain
(over 5-8% deformation) causes a worse weldability
Residual stresses in BM for previous cold working (lamination, cold
forming, etc.) can cause cracking formation (a heat treatment after cold
forming is recommended)
Recommended heat treatmet after cold forming: Mill annealing at Tmax
lower than those recommended for solution annealing, to avoid grain
coarsening

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Weldability - General remarks

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

Weldability - General remarks

Preheating is generally not required. Drying of welding edges is required

for low room temperature (< 2C).
Preheating may be required in case of dissimilar joints with
ferritic/martensitic materials.
Alloys containing Ni 35 - 45% show a strong HOT SHORTNESS
susceptibility.
Precautions:

hard cleaning (grinding+solvents)

low heat input (small diameter electrodes and wires)
no preheating
Interpass= 120 - 150C max

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Metallurgy and weldability of nickel and nickel alloys

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