{"id":21663,"date":"2023-06-16T13:05:16","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/?p=21663"},"modified":"2024-08-06T15:59:33","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T12:59:33","slug":"stainless-steel-welding-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/stainless-steel-welding-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Stainless Steel Welding &#8211; Challenges, Methods &#038; Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/what-is-stainless-steel\/\">Stainless steel<\/a> is a widely used metal used by most sectors due to its proven durability, corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. It shares similar properties to carbon steel but with at least 10.5% chromium content for added resistance to corrosion.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s explore the unique characteristics of welding stainless steel to maximise its overall result.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-key-takeaways\">\n        <span class=\"v2-section-title v2-section-title--md\">Key Takeaways<\/span>\n        <ul class=\"shortcode-key-takeaways-list\">\n                                                <li>Stainless steel has <strong>low thermal conductivity and high thermal expansion<\/strong>, presenting challenges such as warping, cracking, and rust during welding.<\/li>\n                                                                <li>Common welding methods for stainless steel include <strong>TIG, MIG, SMAW, FCAW, resistance, and friction welding<\/strong>, each with specific advantages and applications.<\/li>\n                                                                <li>Effective welding practices involve <strong>choosing the right filler material, adjusting welding parameters, and using proper shielding gas<\/strong> to prevent contamination and achieve high-quality welds.<\/li>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<h2>The Challenges in Welding Stainless Steel<\/h2>\n<p>Stainless steel welding, in particular, presents a unique set of challenges in welding from its <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/mechanical-properties-of-materials\/\">mechanical properties<\/a>. Its various grades and types (such as austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/precipitation-hardening-explained\/\">precipitation-hardened<\/a>, Duplex, etc) add an extra layer of complexity to the subject.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s explore a few of the challenges in welding stainless steel and learn how to overcome them.<\/p>\n<h3>Warping &amp; Cracking<\/h3>\n<p>Stainless steel has low thermal conductivity and high thermal expansion, making it susceptible to <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/welding-defects-types-causes-prevention\/\">warping and cracking<\/a>. Excessive heat input during welding or a rapid change in the temperature puts the metal under stress, resulting in distortion as it cools down.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few ways to prevent warping and cracking, one of which is through working with lower heat input. While it may seem logical, it also may result in poor weld quality due to incomplete fusion between the workpieces. So it is always important to strike a balance between the two extremes. Another solution is to create a heat sink by clamping copper or brass behind the seam, absorbing unnecessary heat into the <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/copper-alloys\/\">copper alloys<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Rust<\/h3>\n<p>Stainless steel is known to have high corrosion resistance, yet excess heat may still generate rust in the weld. It may also form as the carbon from the filler material contaminates the <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/heat-affected-zone-causes-effects-reduction\/\">heat-affected zone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing an optimal welding temperature and a stainless steel filler alloy depending on the job greatly reduces the risk of forming rust in the material.<\/p>\n<h3>Welding Dissimilar Steels<\/h3>\n<p>Welding dissimilar metals or various stainless steel grades together can be challenging, especially if their <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/melting-point-of-metals-chart\/\">melting points<\/a> are far apart. It might cause great trouble in fusing the metals effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Selecting the optimal filler rod is necessary when welding stainless steel and another alloy. Preheating the metals can also alleviate this problem.<\/p>\n<h3>Switching Between Jobs<\/h3>\n<p>The lower melting temperature of stainless steel (1375 \u2013 1530\u00b0C) compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/what-is-mild-steel\/\">mild steel<\/a> (1425-1540\u00b0C) might become problematic when switching between the two.<\/p>\n<h3>Toxic Fumes<\/h3>\n<p>Stainless steel welds produce toxic fumes in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/topics\/hexchrom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hexavalent chromium gas<\/a>. It develops as the chromium oxide layer is destroyed and may occur either during the heating or cooling process.<\/p>\n<p>An effective breathing mask combined with proper ventilation in the area is key to ensuring the welder&#8217;s safety.<\/p>\n<h2>Stainless Steel Welding Methods<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on the project&#8217;s requirements, several <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/types-of-welding-processes\/\">welding processes<\/a> can be performed to join stainless steel parts. We&#8217;ll highlight a few of those processes but this is not an exhaustive list, processes such as <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/plasma-arc-welding-paw-explained\/\">plasma welding<\/a>, electron beam welding, <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/submerged-arc-welding-explained\/\">submerged arc welding<\/a>, etc are all perfectly capable of welding stainless steels as well.<\/p>\n<h3>TIG Welding (GTAW)<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-21672\" src=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/TIG-welded-stainless-steel-piping-flange.jpg\" alt=\"Pressure vessel fabrication, GTAW TIG welded joint\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/TIG-welded-stainless-steel-piping-flange.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/TIG-welded-stainless-steel-piping-flange-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/TIG-welded-stainless-steel-piping-flange-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/tig-welding-explained\/\">TIG welding<\/a> is widely used in the fabrication sector for stainless steel since it has a stable arc and the process is automated. In the TIG process, the heat applied to the weld can precisely be controlled through a foot pedal or finger control, minimising the possibility of warping. TIG welding machines can also switch between AC and DC polarities, offering flexibility and convenience simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>Gas tungsten arc welding stainless steel is rather costly since the process needs consumables such as shielding gas (usually pure argon) and optional filler rods. Selecting the right geometry and size of the electrode depending on the welding variables should definitely be considered beforehand.<\/p>\n<h3>MIG Welding (GMAW)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/mig-welding-explained\/\">MIG welding<\/a> is another popular choice for welding stainless steel. It offers faster speeds than TIG welding mainly thanks to its continuously fed electrode. One downside of this technique is that it doesn&#8217;t look as pleasing to the eye as properly executed TIG welds.<\/p>\n<p>A Teflon wire liner in the MIG gun allows for a consistent wire feed to the weld pool and added protection from contamination. Backstepping, staggering or allowing the joint to undergo a bit of the cooling process helps avoid warpage since stainless steel retains heat well.<\/p>\n<h3>Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/shielded-metal-arc-welding\/\">Stick-welding<\/a> stainless steel is often the practical choice regarding cost, portability and simplicity. SMAW can be performed in almost any environment and thus is great for various repair jobs and welding stainless steel outdoors.<\/p>\n<p>Thicker pieces of stainless steel (above 2mm) are most suitable for SMAW since it is harder to control the heat input than with other methods. Selecting the electrode (typical grades: 316, 308, or 312) is an important part of the project. Beware of slag removal after the welding as it might be a bit of a struggle.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-enhanced-cta\">\n        <div class=\"shortcode-enhanced-cta__content\">\n            <span class=\"v2-section-title v2-section-title--md\">Scale Your Manufacturing from Prototyping to Series<\/span>\n\n            <ul class=\"shortcode-enhanced-cta-list\">\n                                                            <li>\n                                                            <div class=\"shortcode-icon\">\n                                    <svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 33 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M16.4933 23.3059C21.7413 23.3059 25.9956 19.0515 25.9956 13.8036C25.9956 8.55559 21.7413 4.30127 16.4933 4.30127C11.2453 4.30127 6.991 8.55559 6.991 13.8036C6.991 19.0515 11.2453 23.3059 16.4933 23.3059Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M1.16917 30.3724C1.35654 28.4452 2.49414 26.7455 4.20723 25.8488L11.5682 21.9542\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M21.4318 21.9542L28.7928 25.8488C30.5058 26.7588 31.6434 28.4586 31.8308 30.3724\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M12.8798 18.7956H6.10769C4.24738 18.7956 2.74843 17.2967 2.74843 15.4364V12.2243\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M8.28921 9.02567H3.97971C3.29715 9.02567 2.74843 9.57439 2.74843 10.2569V14.2185C2.74843 14.901 3.29715 15.4498 3.97971 15.4498H7.13822\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M24.7108 9.02567H28.7928C29.4753 9.02567 30.024 9.57439 30.024 10.2569V14.2185C30.024 14.901 29.4753 15.4498 28.7928 15.4498H25.8484\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M14.3787 20.2946C15.2066 20.2946 15.8777 19.6235 15.8777 18.7956C15.8777 17.9678 15.2066 17.2967 14.3787 17.2967C13.5509 17.2967 12.8798 17.9678 12.8798 18.7956C12.8798 19.6235 13.5509 20.2946 14.3787 20.2946Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M16.4933 23.3059C21.7413 23.3059 25.9956 19.0515 25.9956 13.8036C25.9956 8.55559 21.7413 4.30127 16.4933 4.30127C11.2453 4.30127 6.991 8.55559 6.991 13.8036C6.991 19.0515 11.2453 23.3059 16.4933 23.3059Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M4.70242 9.02568C6.5895 4.35483 11.1667 1.07587 16.4933 1.07587C21.8199 1.07587 26.29 4.27453 28.2173 8.85169\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n                                <\/div>\n                            \n                                                            <span>Personal account manager<\/span>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                <li>\n                                                            <div class=\"shortcode-icon\">\n                                    <svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 33 34\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M17.5835 26.6203C16.8491 26.0906 15.4887 26.1628 14.959 25.4284C14.4293 24.694 14.9229 23.4299 14.6339 22.5631C14.345 21.6963 13.2133 20.986 13.2133 20.059C13.2133 19.1319 14.3691 18.3976 14.6339 17.5548C14.8988 16.7121 14.4293 15.4119 14.959 14.6895C15.4887 13.9672 16.8491 14.0274 17.5835 13.4976C18.3179 12.9679 18.655 11.6436 19.5218 11.3667C20.3886 11.0898 21.412 11.9566 22.351 11.9566C23.2901 11.9566 24.3375 11.1019 25.1802 11.3667C26.0229 11.6316 26.3962 12.9679 27.1185 13.4976C27.8409 14.0274 29.2133 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18.0169 30.9905L19.1847 32.0138C19.4375 32.2305 19.8348 32.0981 19.895 31.773L20.5451 28.679\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M26.9981 26.7046L29.3698 30.0876C29.5625 30.3645 29.3698 30.7497 29.0448 30.7738L26.8055 30.9303C26.7092 30.9303 26.6129 30.9785 26.5406 31.0507L25.5294 31.9897C25.2765 32.2185 24.8792 32.0861 24.807 31.761L24.1569 28.691\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M14.7062 24.7181H3.91912C2.59481 24.7181 1.51129 23.6466 1.51129 22.3103V3.73391C1.51129 2.4096 2.58277 1.32608 3.91912 1.32608H22.5075C23.8318 1.32608 24.9154 2.39756 24.9154 3.73391V11.3186\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M15.4646 1.32608H10.9379V9.81366H15.4646V1.32608Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n                                <\/div>\n                            \n                                                            <span>Quality assurance<\/span>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                <li>\n                                                            <div class=\"shortcode-icon\">\n                                    <svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M17.576 22.1218H4.47786C3.039 22.1218 1.87455 20.7126 1.87455 18.9994V4.93701C1.87455 3.20888 3.039 1.81451 4.47786 1.81451H26.1796C27.6184 1.81451 28.7829 3.20888 28.7829 4.93701V9.53916\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M1.87084 5.5081H28.7866\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M1.87084 11.2636H18.0618\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M6.22453 17.019H10.4299\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M24.5182 25.63C29.2739 25.63 33.1292 21.7747 33.1292 17.019C33.1292 12.2633 29.2739 8.40808 24.5182 8.40808C19.7625 8.40808 15.9072 12.2633 15.9072 17.019C15.9072 21.7747 19.7625 25.63 24.5182 25.63Z\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path d=\"M24.5182 11.0967V17.019L27.7519 20.2528\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n                                <\/div>\n                            \n                                                            <span>Payment terms for companies<\/span>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                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stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path id=\"Vector_6\" d=\"M4.02589 25.2295H10.1181L9.6992 23.8089C9.38048 22.7344 8.39698 22.0059 7.27689 22.0059H4.02589\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path id=\"Vector_7\" d=\"M26.9832 25.2295H20.891L21.3099 23.8089C21.6286 22.7344 22.6121 22.0059 23.7322 22.0059H26.9832\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path id=\"Vector_8\" d=\"M15.5 7.89999V10.6501\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<path id=\"Vector_9\" d=\"M12.4858 10.6501H18.5142\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n<\/g>\n<\/svg>\n                                <\/div>\n                            \n                                                            <span>On-time delivery by Fractory<\/span>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                    <\/ul>\n\n            <a class=\"c-button c-button--sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.fractory.com\/quotes\/new\">Get a quote<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"shortcode-enhanced-cta__media\">\n                            <video class=\"shortcode-video\" autoplay loop muted playsinline>\n                    <source src=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/homepage-vid-v2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\">\n                <\/video>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<h3>Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/flux-cored-arc-welding-explained\/\">Flux-cored arc welding<\/a> stainless steel is sometimes preferred over SMAW since it generally creates a more uniform weld bead. FCAW can be performed with a shielding gas when working with varying material thicknesses or in demanding welding conditions.<\/p>\n<p>A 10\u00b0 drag angle allows the flux to rise at the weld pool and gives enough bead coverage.<\/p>\n<h3>Resistance Welding<\/h3>\n<p>Resistance welding (<a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/spot-welding-explained\/\">spot welding<\/a>, seam welding) stainless steel creates clean welds compared to arc welding processes since it doesn&#8217;t use filler material and has no risk of weld spatter. The high electrical resistance of stainless steel is also favorable since it can complete a weld in a short amount of time.<\/p>\n<p>A good quality welder with sufficient power output is necessary for resistance welding stainless steel to prevent the areas close to the HAZ from deformities. It is recommended to have higher current and voltage values when welding stainless steels compared to, for example, copper and <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/aluminium-grades\/\">aluminium alloys<\/a> due to the difference in electrical conductivity.<\/p>\n<h3>Friction Welding<\/h3>\n<div class=\"arve arve-hover-effect-darken\" data-mode=\"lazyload\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-f6qyyj3d3lm\" style=\"max-width:900px;\" data-reset-after-played data-fullscreen=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"arve-inner\">\n<div class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 500 \/ 281\">\n<span class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.200000%\"><\/span><noscript class=\"arve-noscript\"><iframe credentialless referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allow=\"accelerometer &#039;none&#039;;ambient-light-sensor &#039;none&#039;;autoplay;battery &#039;none&#039;;bluetooth &#039;none&#039;;browsing-topics &#039;none&#039;;camera 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&#039;none&#039;;xr-spatial-tracking &#039;none&#039;;\" allowfullscreen class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" data-arve=\"arve-youtube-f6qyyj3d3lm\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f6qYYJ3D3lM?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"505.8\" name sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f6qYYJ3D3lM?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=1&#038;enablejsapi=1\" width=\"900\" title=\"Friction Welding Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel\" loading=\"eager\"><\/iframe>\n<\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Friction Welding Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/hqdefault.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/mqdefault.webp 320w, https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/hqdefault.webp 480w, https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/sddefault.webp 640w, https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/hq720.webp 1280w, https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi_webp\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\/maxresdefault.webp 1920w\" class=\"arve-thumbnail\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" loading=\"lazy\">\n<h5 class=\"arve-title\">\nFriction Welding Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel\n<\/h5>\n<button role=\"button\" type=\"button\" class=\"arve-play-btn arve-play-btn--youtube\" data-target=\"#arve-youtube-f6qyyj3d3lm\" aria-label=\"Play video: Friction Welding Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel\">\n<svg class=\"arve-play-svg arve-play-svg--youtube\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"68\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t<path fill=\"#1f1f1e\" fill-opacity=\"0.81\" d=\"m .66,37.62 c 0,0 .66,4.70 2.70,6.77 2.58,2.71 5.98,2.63 7.49,2.91 5.43,.52 23.10,.68 23.12,.68 .00,-1.3e-5 14.29,-0.02 23.81,-0.71 1.32,-0.15 4.22,-0.17 6.81,-2.89 2.03,-2.07 2.70,-6.77 2.70,-6.77 0,0 .67,-5.52 .67,-11.04 l 0,-5.17 c 0,-5.52 -0.67,-11.04 -0.67,-11.04 0,0 -0.66,-4.70 -2.70,-6.77 C 62.03,.86 59.13,.84 57.80,.69 48.28,0 34.00,0 34.00,0 33.97,0 19.69,0 10.18,.69 8.85,.84 5.95,.86 3.36,3.58 1.32,5.65 .66,10.35 .66,10.35 c 0,0 -0.55,4.50 -0.66,9.45 l 0,8.36 c .10,4.94 .66,9.45 .66,9.45 z\"><\/path>\n\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"m 26.96,13.67 18.37,9.62 -18.37,9.55 -0.00,-19.17 z\" ><\/path>\n\t<path fill=\"#ccc\" d=\"M 45.02,23.46 45.32,23.28 26.96,13.67 43.32,24.34 45.02,23.46 z\" ><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n\n<\/button>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"http:\\\/\\\/schema.org\\\/\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/fractory.com\\\/stainless-steel-welding-explained\\\/#arve-youtube-f6qyyj3d3lm\",\"type\":\"VideoObject\",\"embedURL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/embed\\\/f6qYYJ3D3lM?feature=oembed&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=1&enablejsapi=1\",\"name\":\"Friction Welding Stainless Steel to Carbon Steel\",\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi_webp\\\/f6qYYJ3D3lM\\\/hqdefault.webp\",\"uploadDate\":\"20230517T000000+0100\",\"author\":\"American Friction Welding\",\"duration\":\"55S\",\"description\":\"Stainless steel to carbon steel friction welding on a computer-controlled, 125-ton rotary friction welder\"}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Friction welding stainless steel, similar to resistance welding, doesn&#8217;t use consumables, making it an economical choice when the part geometries allow for it. It is most suitable for welding austenitic stainless steel due to its composition of chromium (16-26%) and nickel (8-22%).<\/p>\n<p>Some factors that need to be considered are friction pressure, burn-off length and rotational speed. Some sub-types of friction welding may be suitable for specific applications: friction hydro pillar processing (FHPP), friction stir welding (FSW) and friction plunge welding.<\/p>\n<h2>Stainless Steel Welding Best Practices<\/h2>\n<h3>Safety and Preparation<\/h3>\n<p>Preparation of equipment, materials and the work area is essential before engaging in any kind of welding process suitable for stainless steels. A dedicated stainless steel wire brush to prepare the metals will decrease the chances of contamination. Gloves, goggles and other protective gear will minimise the risk of accidents such as exposure to fumes and injury due to spatter.<\/p>\n<h3>Filler Metal Selection<\/h3>\n<p>Choosing the appropriate filler material depending on the scope of work is really important. Most of the time it should match the grade of the stainless steel, achieving almost the same properties. Other considerations in choosing filler material include <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/types-of-welding-joints\/\">weld joint design<\/a>, aesthetics and overall weld performance.<\/p>\n<h3>Parameters<\/h3>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/welding-services\/\">experienced welding provider<\/a> understands the finer details of each stainless steel grade, weldable metals and welding method. It leads to a better choice when fine-tuning the parameters such as the power supply, torch angle, travel speed and deposition rate. Effective use of these welding parameters will help to achieve the highest quality welds.<\/p>\n<h3>Shielding Gas<\/h3>\n<p>The choice of shielding gas in processes such as <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/mig-vs-tig-welding\/\">MIG and TIG welding<\/a> is crucial in protecting the weld pool from contamination. The correct shielding gas composition will reduce the risk of weld defects and improve the weld&#8217;s overall outcome.<\/p>\n<h3>Heat Input<\/h3>\n<p>Consider the variables of the welding project in determining the ideal heat input to weld stainless steel. Generally, the welding current should be about 20% less than for carbon steel to <a href=\"https:\/\/fractory.com\/types-of-corrosion\/\">prevent corrosion<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stainless steel is a widely used metal used by most sectors due to its proven durability, corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. It shares similar properties to carbon steel but with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":21665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6490,6491,6526],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[739,740,741,2542],"class_list":["post-21663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fabrication-methods","category-engineering-materials","category-welding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21663"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23808,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21663\/revisions\/23808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21663"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fractory.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=21663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}