Types of Stainless Steel That Are Suitable For Welding
Today, stainless steel remains even more popular because of its valuable characteristics. These include the resistance to different kinds of liquid, chemical and gaseous corrosion. It is also known for its robust and long-lasting properties.
When it comes to welding, stainless steel is also a popular choice. Learning stainless steel welding may seem like a complex process to many, but understanding the basics regarding welding stainless steel will help you get started with choosing the right manufacturer.
With article, let's learn more about stainless steel welding and the types of stainless steel involved.
Common Ways Of Welding Stainless Steel
The type of process for stainless steel welding will depend on the finish of the material used and thickness of the metal. Although there are several methods for stainless steel welding most welders only used these three techniques. They are:
#1 TIG welding (Gas Tungsten Arc welding)
TIG or Tungsten Inert Gas welding is the most common stainless steel welding process nowadays. This method is ideal when welding critical joints. It is also widely used in industries where fine and precise welds are required.
Generally, this method uses argon gas that is mixed with helium, hydrogen and nitrogen. Argon gas is used since it protects and cools down the tungsten. Aside from that, it prevents oxidation. Lesser smoke is also released by argon gas compared to other gases.
#2 Resistance or spot welding
As the name suggests, this is the welding process for spot or seam welding. Spot welding is known to be the most economical technique of welding. Moreover, the equipment used for resistance welding is very versatile. Hence, it is perfect to use for small and large welding projects.
Resistance welding uses an electrical current to melt metal edges and bond them together. This technique is known to be a productive choice for metals with a low melting point. This is because it can be easily modified to prevent metal distortion.
#3 MIG welding (Gas metal arc welding)
This method is a semi-automatic welding process that provides durable bonding of two pieces of stainless steel especially when it is done correctly.
MIG welding allows the welder to utilise a pulsed current supply. In this way, it will be easier to weld the hard-to-reach corners on those intricate stainless steel projects.
Types Of Stainless Steel For Welding
There are three common types of stainless steel used for welding. They are often categorized based on their microstructure (microstructure in a key influencing factor in how strong the steel is going to be). The types of stainless steel used are:
- Austenitic stainless steel – the most commonly used material
- Martensitic stainless steel – used for hard facing and other high-wear applications
- Ferritic stainless steel – most commonly used for consumer products as it’s cheap to make
Each kind has it’s own benefits and difficulties when it comes to welding. The techniques used to weld these types stainless steel are also not very different as listed above as well.
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With Choong Ngai Engineering's veteran technicians and engineers, we can provide stainless steel welding services regardless of which industry your business is in.
Most importantly, we'll work alongside you and your team to understand and define your exact requirements, and this process ensures that we provide the best solution to your unique maintenance requirements.
With our custom stainless steel welding equipment and techniques, we've been servicing happy customers for over 20 years. Learn more about our services and previous projects on our website or contact us at
choonngaiengworks@gmail.com
