A new study published in TEKNIK, the engineering journal of Universitas Diponegoro (Indonesia), investigates how post-weld cooling media affect the mechanical properties of shielded metal arc welds (SMAW) on AISI 1060 carbon steel.

The cooling process after welding changes the steel's microstructure, which in turn affects tensile strength, elasticity, strain and brittleness. This study set out to determine the mechanical properties of AISI 1060 steel — including tensile strength, elasticity and elongation — after the material goes through the welding process.

The welding method applied was a V-groove joint in the 1G position, carried out on nine specimens measuring 200 x 20 x 8 mm (L x W x T). The welded specimens were then cooled for 10 minutes before tensile testing was performed.

The results showed that used oil as a cooling medium produced greater tensile strength than tap water or well water. The higher tensile strength value caused the steel to undergo a greater strain process, yielding strain values of 2.2380%, 0.053% and 0.1063% for steel cooled with used oil, tap water and well water, respectively.

The findings provide quantitative data for post-weld cooling practice, showing that the choice of cooling medium measurably affects the mechanical performance of SMAW joints on high-carbon steel.