Title: What is a Cold Cracking? - Definition from Corrosionpedia
Headings: Cold Cracking
Cold Cracking
Definition - What does Cold Cracking mean?
Corrosionpedia explains Cold Cracking
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Content: What is a Cold Cracking? - Definition from Corrosionpedia
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Published: October 24, 2013 | Updated: November 5, 2019
Definition - What does Cold Cracking mean? Cold cracking is a welding discontinuity or welding defect, depending on the specification upon which the weld is being evaluated. Cold cracking causes sharp edged, narrow crevices to form intermittently or completely throughout the weld and weld heat-affected zone. Although it depends on the application, cold cracking will usually lead to complete weld failure. Cold cracking is also called hydrogen-induced cracking or simply hydrogen cracking because hydrogen trapped in the weld and heat-affected zone is responsible for this type of cracking. This occurs when steel is rapidly cooled and allowed to form martensite. Due to the rapid cooling, hydrogen atoms trapped inside of the heat-affected zone join together and create an internal stress on the weldment.