Welding of stainless steel: the features of the process

In modern industry or construction, stainless steel welding is the main process of building structures. However, this process can not be called easy and problem-free. Stainless steel is much more difficult to weld than carbon steel. The point is in the properties of metal. For example, the specific electrical resistance is very high, but the thermal conductivity is quite low.

There are several methods of joining metals. For example, for a metal whose thickness is more than 1 cm, flux welding is used for welding stainless steel. Flux protects the junction from the air. In addition, electrode wire is used.

You can also use roller metal welding. It is produced by means of sequential formation of points, and the interval of their formation is controlled. The way the device will work depends on the location of the points and the step between them.

For joining metals, spot welding of stainless steel by resistance is also used. To perform the process, low-voltage current pulses are used. They are short. But the resistance when using this kind of metal compound is very high.

To perform the process, high-frequency currents can also be used. Laser welding of stainless steel is provided by a laser beam. Thanks to him, you can achieve a high degree of concentration of heat at one point. When using this type of compound, there are no large losses of molten metal. Although this type can not be called cheap, it is very effective and firmly connects materials.

If the metal sheets are thin, then the arc welding method can be used. However, the most effective combination of steels is plasma soldering. At the moment, the type presented is the newest and most effective.

Welding of stainless steels also has its own characteristics. There are materials that, after processing, become brittle, and the constructions based on them become dangerous, as they can simply fall apart. In order to intercrystalline corrosion does not happen or it was expressed in an extremely small degree, it is necessary to weaken the loss of carbides during welding.

During the joining of materials, different electrodes are used for welding stainless steel. For example, elements with a protective-alloy coating are used to work with high-alloy metals. The fact is that in this case the seam turns out to be more reliable, and the properties of the metal in the bond region are practically no different from the general properties of stainless steel.

Also, the use of electrode elements depends on the type of welding. For example, argon-arc uses melting and non-melting tungsten elements. And each species is used in precisely defined conditions.

It should also be noted that modern industry and progress in the technological sphere contribute to the improvement of the process of welding stainless steels. However, even now the joint on metals is strong enough and makes the structure strong and resistant.