There are three key factors influencing the risk of hydrogen cracks:
The forming of a brittle microstructure in the weld is strongly dependent on the alloy content in the base and filler materials and on the cooling rate. The hydrogen is introduced mainly from moisture and dirt but also by the filler material and is very dependent on the type of filler used. Tensile stresses always occur in welded joints to some extent because of the thermal shrinkage during cooling and the degree of constraint in the design of the joint. These key factors all interact with each other. For example, if the hydrogen content is increased in the joint for a specific welding situation, the cracks can form at lower tensile stresses. Different models exist on how these three parameters interact with each other. However, no exact proven mechanism for the initiation of hydrogen cracks exists.
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