using AR400 plate for my repairs/fabrication

[supersize75k5]

So my frame is in need of some life suport on my white chevy and A friend who maintains mine equipment got me a plate of 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch AR400...


Now.. other than the obvious problems I am going to have cutting it or working with it, any serious cracking problems or special needs to weld this to my frame?

why? I got the plate for free and I need some beef

 

[NEK5]

Doesn't suprise me Sorry I have nothing to add here

 

[original balzer]

I'm no metallurgist but I thought that stuff was brittle?

AR400 = 400 brinell harness . A good rule to know is brinell hardness divided by 2 is the approximate tensile strength

For example, your AR400 is approximately 200ksi TS . Needless to say you don't have a hope in **** to strength match this plate, nor does it matter since thes AR type plates are used for the abrasion resistant properties not strength

Think of blades for heavy equipment such as my backhoe's front bucket. Its tough as hell but if you bang into something hard enough it will break a chunk out of it rather than bend. The only reason I know anything about it is because my backhoes blade is AR400 steel. I just dont think it would be good for your intended use.

Also I might add I have tried to weld pieces back on with epic fail. The weld holds but it will ususally break on either side of the weld righ next to the weld. So Im sure either special rod or preheat or most likely both are nessisary.

 

[tRustyK5]

No special rod or wire required for AR400. Pre-heat is the answer to cracking problems. In the thickness Shawn has pre-heat to 250F then weld as normal. Stick, 7018 works good, microwire, an E70S-6 is fine with an Ar-CO2 mix.

The key is get it warm, but not crazy hot. The pre-heat prevents overly quick cooling of the heat affected zone, which greatly minimizes cracking.

No post heat required.

Rene

 

[supersize75k5]

ok..so preheat and a good HAZ,


ill post the results,

thanks for the input guys