Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of 4130 Chrome Moly Steel

Keywords: Chrome moly steel, elongation, TIG welding, crack sensitivity, sports equipment, weld bead, tungsten electrode, tubing, welding wire, heat treatment

4130 chrome moly steel is commonly used in many sports equipment applications. Due to its high strength, low elongation, and high impact strength, its usage has become widespread, nearly equivalent to that of low-carbon steel tubing. Correct Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, also known as GTAW, makes welding 4130 chrome moly steel relatively straightforward.

Apart from its susceptibility to cracking, the welding of 4130 chrome moly steel shares similarities with low-carbon steels. The Chinese designation for 4130 chrome moly steel is 30CrMo, where “30” indicates the carbon content. Typically, J857Cr welding rods can be used for welding.

For industrial pressure piping applications, welding materials for chrome moly steels vary depending on the Cr and Mo content. Different welding rods and wires can be selected based on the specific grade:

  • For the steel grade 12CrMo (0.5Cr-0.5Mo), R207 welding rods and TIG-R30 welding wire can be used.
  • For 15CrMo (1Cr-0.5Mo), R307 welding rods and TIG-R30 welding wire are recommended.
  • For 12CrMoV (1Cr-0.5Mo-V), R317 welding rods and TIG-R31 welding wire are suitable.
  • For 12Cr2Mo (2.5Cr-0.5Mo), R407 welding rods and TIG-40 welding wire are appropriate.
  • For 1Cr5Mo (5Cr-0.5Mo), R507 welding rods and TIG-40 welding wire can be used.
  • For Cr9Mo (9Cr-1Mo), R707 welding rods and TIG-40 welding wire are sufficient.

These selections help ensure the proper welding of chrome moly steels under various industrial conditions.