Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)

Welding is an essential part of operating and maintaining assets in the petroleum (upstream, midstream,
downstream) and chemical processing industries. While it has many useful applications, the welding process
can inadvertently weaken equipment by imparting residual stresses into a material, leading to reduced
material properties.
In order to ensure the material strength of of a part is retained after welding, a process known as Post Weld
Heat Treatment (PWHT) is regularly performed. PWHT can be used to reduce residual stresses, as a
method of hardness control, or even to enhance material strength.[1]
If PWHT is performed incorrectly, or neglected altogether, residual stresses can combine with load stresses
to exceed a materials design limitations. This can lead to weld failures, higher cracking potential, and
increased susceptibility to brittle fracture.[2]
PWHT encompasses many different types of potential treatments; two of the most common types are post
heating and stress relieving:

Post Heating:
o

Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) often occurs when high levels of ambient hydrogen
permeate into a material during welding. By heating the material after welding, it is possible to
diffuse hydrogen from the welded area, thus preventing HIC. This process is known as post
heating and should begin immediately after the weld is completed. Rather than being allowed to
cool, the material needs to be heated to a certain temperature depending on the type and
thickness of the material. It should be held at this temperature for a number of hours dependent
on the thickness of the material.[1]

Stress Relieving:
o

By the time its complete, the welding process can leave a large number of residual stresses
in a material, which can lead to an increased potential for stress corrosion and hydrogen
induced cracking. PWHT can be used to release these residual stresses and reduce this
potential. This process involves heating the material to a specific temperature and then
gradually cooling it.[1]

Whether or not a material should undergo PWHT dependson a number of factors,including things like its
alloying system or whether its been subject to heat treatment previously. Certain materials can actually be
damaged by PWHT, while others almost always require it.[1]
In general, the higher the carbon content of a material, the more likely it needs PWHT after welding
activities have been conducted. Similarly, the higher the alloy content and cross-sectional thickness, the
more likely the material is to need PWHT.[2]

What is 3g
The 3G welding certification qualifies a welder to weld flat, horizontal, and vertical or 1G, 2G,
and 3G positions, also includes the 1F, 2F, and 3F positions without having to take the 1G and 2G
certification.