Use of the cast pin tear test to study solidification cracking

The cast pin tear test (CPTT) was originally developed by F.C. Hull in the 1960s to study solidification cracking in austenitic stainless steels. Over a past 5 years, researchers at the Ohio State University have modified the original test and apparatus design to study solidification cracking in a range of Ni-base alloys and stainless steels. This paper describes the development of the test apparatus, the techniques that are used, and results from the testing of several alloy systems. It is shown that the CPTT closely reproduced the trends in solidification cracking behavior determined by the Transvarestraint test and experienced in actual welds. Very good correlation is found between rankings of the solidification cracking susceptibility in various high-alloy stainless steels and high-Cr Ni-base filler metals generated using the CPTT and other solidification cracking tests. In addition, the application of the CPTT to study dilution effects in dissimilar material combinations is described.