Corrosion of carbon steel and Low-Alloy steel weldment

Carbon steel , steel that contain up to 2% of carbon , 1.65% Mn, 0.60%si and 0.60%Cu.

Weldability depends on carbon and manganese contents and impurity level.

Low carbon steel: contain up to approximately 0.30% and up to 1.65%Mn.

Low carbon level (less than 0.15%C), the steel are non-hardening and Weldability is excellent. Known as
aluminum-killed, continuous cast iron. The lower available oxygen in the killed sheet make it easier to
arc weld without porosity formation.

The range of 0.15% to 0.30% (sometime termed mill steel). Generally easily welded but due to
hardening is a possibility. Precautions such as preheating may require at higher manganese level, thicker
and high join restraint. Mostly used for rolled structural plate and tabular product. These are generally
killed or semi-killed. The presence of surface scale (formation of iron oxide) due high temperature rolling
process increase the likelihood of porosity formation.

Medium carbon steel: steel that contains 0.30% to 0.60% C. Can be successfully welded by all of the arc
welding processes. The higher of the carbon content of the steels, along manganese from 0.6% to 1.65%
makes the steel more hard-enable.

High carbon steel: Steel that contain 0.60% to 2.0%, has poor Weldability because of the likelihood of
formation of a hard, brittle martensitic upon weld cooling. Austenitic stainless steel electrode are
sometimes used to weld high carbon steel.

Low : up to 0.3% Medium:0.3% to 0.6% High 0.6% to 2%

LOW Alloy Steel

Exhibits mechanical property superior to plain carbon steel as result of addition of alloying elements.
Total alloy contents can range from 2.07% to up levels just below stainless steel.

Minimum of approximately 11% chromium. ( 10.5%)

High strength low alloy (HSLA) – provided for better mechanical properties, have generally have yield
strength of 290 to 550 MPa (generally carbon manganese type) , with very small addition of niobium
and Vanadium to ensure both grain refinement and precipitation of hardening.

Quenched and tempered steels- are heat treated to provide yield strength 345 to 1035 MPa