Hydrogen Induced Cracks in Armor Steel Weldments Fabricated with Austenitic Filler Alloys

摘要

Hydrogen induced cracks have been identified in the weld metal of cast armor steel weldments fabricated with austenitic electrodes. Cracks propagated through a well defined band of materials located between the fusion boundary and the composite region of the weld metal. Martensite band formation was found to result from the combined effects of vigorous hydrodynamic forces, especially in large molten weld pools, and the interdiffusion of alloying elements in that system formed between the base metal and the weld metal. Methods of controlling this form of cracking include limiting base metal dilution, minimizing the concentration of available hydrogen in the welding arc atmosphere, or the selection of more suitable ferritic filler alloys.