Welding Inspection & Metallurgy API ICP Self Study Notes

10 Metallurgy
10.1 GENERAL
Metallurgy is a complex science but a general understanding of the major
principles is important to the inspector, due to the wide variety of base metals
that may be joined by welding during the repair of equipment, and the
significant impact on the metals resulting from the welding process. The
welding process can affect both the mechanical properties and the corrosion
resistance properties of the weldment. This section is designed to provide an
awareness of metallurgical effects important to personnel performing
inspections, but is not to be considered an in depth resource of metallurgy.
Based on the concept that this section provides a basic understanding, this
section does not describe all aspects of metallurgy such as crystalline
structures of materials and atomic configurations, which are left to other more
complete metallurgy texts.