Liquation Cracks in Hot Upset Low Alloy Steel Screw Heads

Abstract A thermally upset screw head had numerous cracks at the intersection screw head / screw shaft. The screw consisted of steel that usually does not tend to hot crack. The screw failed when tightening it by applying a torque lower than the nominal torque. The screw head was simply sheared off. A hot crack has clearly been identified as damage-causing mechanism of the material, or, more precisely, liquation cracks. Other damage hypotheses such as liquid metal induced stress corrosion cracking have reliably been excluded in the course of examinations. The material used was 1.7711, 40CrMoV4–6, a material especially used for creep resistant fasteners such as screws and nuts for operating temperatures up to 540°C. This material belongs to the group of low alloy chromium molybdenum vanadium steels. It is typically used in the tempered condition. In Europe, it corresponds to standard EN 10269. In the USA, this steel is known as ASTM A193 GR B16.