When a surfacing weld breaks away from the base metal, this defect is called?

When a surfacing weld breaks away from the base metal, this defect is called?

• A. Spalling
• B. Cracking
• C. Delamination
• D. Peeling

Answer: (A)

This describes a failure where the weld deposit loses its grip on the base metal and flakes or pulls away from the substrate. That specific situation is known as spalling. It happens when the bond between the surfacing weld and the base metal is weak, which can come from poor fusion, surface contamination, improper cleaning, or conditions that cause the deposit to crack and separate from the underlying metal. Cracking would mean a fracture within the weld or base metal, not just a piece coming off. Delamination refers to separation between layers or laminations, which is more common in composite materials or multi-layer cladding rather than a single surface peel. Peeling can describe coating or surface material peeling, but spalling is the term used for a weld deposit breaking away from the base metal itself.

This describes a failure where the weld deposit loses its grip on the base metal and flakes or pulls away from the substrate. That specific situation is known as spalling. It happens when the bond between the surfacing weld and the base metal is weak, which can come from poor fusion, surface contamination, improper cleaning, or conditions that cause the deposit to crack and separate from the underlying metal.

Cracking would mean a fracture within the weld or base metal, not just a piece coming off. Delamination refers to separation between layers or laminations, which is more common in composite materials or multi-layer cladding rather than a single surface peel. Peeling can describe coating or surface material peeling, but spalling is the term used for a weld deposit breaking away from the base metal itself.