Element contents (wt %, from the certificate)
CE (IIW)–
CET–
Pcm–
General assessment (CE IIW)–
CE (IIW) = C + Mn/6 + (Cr+Mo+V)/5 + (Ni+Cu)/15 · CET = C + (Mn+Mo)/10 + (Cr+Cu)/20 + Ni/40 · Pcm = C + Si/30 + (Mn+Cu+Cr)/20 + Ni/60 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B
CE (IIW) was developed for classic carbon-manganese steels, Pcm for low-carbon (about C ≤ 0.12 %) high-strength steels and CET for preheat calculation. This tool gives no preheat temperature; preheat depends on thickness, hydrogen level, heat input and the applicable standard.
For information only; the material certificate, the WPS and the specification govern. The final assessment rests with the responsible welding engineer.
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Curious?
What is the carbon equivalent for?It condenses the hardening effect of the alloying elements into one number. The higher it is, the higher the risk of hard microstructure and cold (hydrogen) cracking in the heat-affected zone, so it is the first value checked when planning preheat and heat input.
What is the difference between CE, CET and Pcm?All three serve the same purpose but were derived for different steel groups. CE (IIW) is common for traditional C-Mn steels; Pcm fits low-carbon high-strength steels better; CET is used in European practice for preheat calculation. Report the one your specification asks for.
Which values should I enter?Use the heat analysis from the material certificate (3.1 certificate). Blank elements count as zero. Boron (B) is in the thousandths range; enter it as a percentage, e.g. 0.0005.
Why no preheat temperature?Preheat depends not only on the carbon equivalent but also on combined thickness, hydrogen level and heat input. The standards give methods that take these together; the right value follows from the WPS and the applicable standard.
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