Can P20 work hardened steel be welded to mild steel? And can it be done using a mig?
Thanks
P20 IIRC is the generic version of Thyroplast.
The manufacturers do not support statements that it can be welded however, on a recent job we have had thyroplast welded and it seems to be ok. Not a
mig job though.
Thyroplast can be heat treated to acheive a uts of upto about 1200N/mm^2 which is why it is used. This must be done obviously post welding or the
welding will anneal it. I remember we stated a stainless steel welding rod to be used of minimum uts 800N/mm^2
Hope that helps. Let me know the application and I might be able to help more
Rob
we "weld" it at work, but the " " is due to the fact it is more like filling as its mould tool repair (being a mould tool type
steel)
we use 312 stainless filler rod, oven preheat and tig it.
should emphasise that it depends on what you are trying to do.
If its attaching something non safety critical as a temporary measure rather than an important bit of car then you "can" weld it without
preheat etc, though it needs slow cooling or it will crack.
I bodge bits up for various things and widgets at work in P20 and D2 (as we have lots of it laying around) and regularly weld (tig plus 312 rod) bits
and bobs of it, but I wouldn't hang anything important off the weld!
[Edited on 19/8/08 by NS Dev]
hhhmmmm well its for part of my upright, so quite a critical part!
Ill just have to get something else sorted out, thanks anyway guys
P20 ..... in an upright, for a car???
Are you completely mad!!!????????
P20 is not a steel to be using anywhere on a car's suspension!!
If its a highly stressed part, use En16t/EN24t/816M40 etc etc
If it needs welding, it should be designed to only need to be mild steel!