HYDROGEN BAKE OUT Also commonly referred to as Post Heat, a Hydrogen bake out is normally carried out immediately after welding is complete, and at temperatures in the region 350-400oC. As the name suggests, the process is used to promote the name suggests, the process is used to promote the release of hydrogen from the […]

ANNEALING Full Annealing is the process that involves heating steels above their ‘transformation’ temperature and cooling very slowly, which results in the softening of the steel, to make it more suitable for working with.

STRESS RELIEVING Stress relief is a term commonly used to refer to Post Weld Heat Treatment; however, it should always be qualified further, as most heat treatments have the effect of reducing stresses.

NORMALISING Normalising is a similar process to annealing, except that after heating to the desired temperature (commonly around 900oC for typical carbon steels) the steel is cooled in still air, which results in a much more rapid cooling. This has the benefits of improving the grain structure of the material following welding or cold working […]

Quench Hardening Heating a metal up to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling in still air, water or suitable oil, which results in making the metal hard.

Tempering This is a heat treatment, which follows a quenching hardening heat treatment. Tempering will increase the toughness of the hardened metal.