Improvement of Weldment by Post Weld Heat Treatment of Low Carbon Steel

Low carbon steel is also known as Corten steel. It has a lower level of carbon (0.05% to 0.3%). Low carbon steel is widely used in the constructional industry for building bridges, buildings, and telecommunication towers etc. The major problems faced during welding of this material are to form residual thermal stresses, cracking, lack of fusion etc. The Laser beam welding (LBW) process is carried out to make a permanent joint. The Laser welded A588 plates are kept in the furnace, heated up to 850°C and maintained for two hours and then cooled to room temperature by furnace cooling, water quenching and air cooling. In this research work, an attempt is made to investigate the Vickers hardness and metallurgical properties of PWHT of Laser welded Corten A588 Grade steel plate.