Key considerations for welding coordinators:
• Select filler metals that match the cladding composition and account for dilution from the base metal.
• Control heat input to avoid excessive alloy dilution and maintain corrosion resistance.
• Ensure proper PWHT if required, as dissimilar metal welds can have different stress-relief needs.
Buttering is commonly used in repair welding of castings or when joining high-alloy steels to low-alloy steels. Cladding is widely applied in the oil and gas industry for reactors and separators. Qualification per ASME Section IX requires separate procedure qualification records for buttering and cladding, as the weld deposit properties differ from groove welds.
A common pitfall is assuming the same filler metal works for both buttering and the final weld. In practice, the buttering layer may require a different alloy to achieve the desired transition.
What is your go-to filler metal combination for carbon steel to 316L stainless steel buttering?
Source: TWI, 2023