When welders weld two pieces of metal together, weld defects can develop in the weld metal and weld welds. The weld defects can be weld porosity weld slag inclusions weld cracks weld underfill weld heat-affected zones (HAZ) and weld gaps. A number of different procedures exist to inspect welded structures for these weld defects. A method called Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) provides a non-destructive type inspection that detects electrically conductive weld flaws with magnetic particles that adhere to these flaws during an eddy current test on a magnetic field on ferromagnetic material.

This article will focus on the importance of various types of welding tests to detect defects in a number of metals including copper alloys, aluminum alloys, steel welds and castings welds.

When welders weld two pieces of metal together using different types of weld methods, weld defects can develop in the weld metal and weld welds. The weld defects can be weld porosity weld slag inclusions weld cracks weld underfill weld heat-affected zones (HAZ) and weld gaps. A number of different procedures exist to inspect welded structures for these defects.

The weld test is a weldability test that evaluates the weldability of base metal. It involves selective etching and observation of weld nugget morphology by optical microscopy. By observing the weld nugget, it is possible to determine if there are any variations in weld fusion; if weld penetration; weld profile; and surface and weld characteristics (blowholes, shrinkage cavity, and slag inclusion).

These features can be used to identify:

– type of welding consumables suitable for welding or not

– heat input needed for welding or not

– type of joint design to avoid the appearance of defects on finished product.

In addition, it enables detection of most common defects such as lack of fusion between parent metal and deposited filler metal, weld metal inclusions, weld root defects and weld cracks.

The weld test is a common nondestructive technique in weld inspection to determine the soundness of welds. It provides a means of quality control when welding or QC when selecting weld consumables for welding on different materials.

Standardization organizations such as the American Welding Society (AWS) have developed specifications and recommended practices for use when performing a weldability test.

This weld test is a non-destructive quality control method that measures a pipe’s resistance to severe stress bending action caused by internal defects such as cracks in pipes made from carbon steel, aluminum alloy, stainless steel or alloy steels etc. Defects are measured on weld seams only and not on the outside of a pipe. The Magnetic Bend Test works best with pipes having a wall thickness greater than 16 gauge (~1/16 inch) and up to 1/2 inch thick materials including weld seams or butt welds. Discover more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welding