Review hydrogen, hard microstructures, insufficient preheat, restraint, poor PWHT, contamination, and crater defects in ER80S-B2 welds.
Cracking in ER80S-B2 welds can occur during solidification, after cooling, or during later service. The underlying cause must be identified before repair.
What Causes Delayed Hydrogen Cracking?
- Moisture or hydrogen contamination
- Insufficient preheat
- Rapid cooling
- Hard heat-affected-zone microstructure
- High joint restraint
- Thick sections
- Delayed or incorrect PWHT
What Causes Hot or Crater Cracks?
Improper bead termination, excessive restraint, unsuitable parameters, contamination, and crater shrinkage may produce cracks while the weld is still hot.
Can Poor Joint Preparation Contribute?
Yes. Oil, rust, moisture, oxide, and arc strikes increase defect risk. Poor fit-up can also create excessive restraint or uneven penetration.
How Can Cracking Be Reduced?
- Verify the base metal.
- Use clean, dry consumables.
- Apply the approved preheat.
- Maintain interpass temperature.
- Control heat input and bead sequence.
- Fill craters properly.
- Follow controlled cooling and PWHT.
- Inspect at the specified time.
Should Cracks Be Welded Over?
No. Locate and remove the entire crack before repair. Investigate the cause so the same procedure does not reproduce it.
Dayang Welding recommends using ER80S-B2 only within a qualified Cr-Mo welding procedure.
