Stainless steel is one of the most widely used materials in industries worldwide. Its characteristics make it a functional and extremely useful element for various industrial applications.
An example of this is its use in welding to create extraordinary finishes. In this article, we will learn more about the types of welding for stainless steel that exist.
What is welding?
Welding refers to joining or fusing different metal parts by means of heat or compression. This process requires a precise and controlled heat source, which is usually a flame from the arc generated from the welder's power source.
For a solid weld, the fusion bath must take care of certain aspects such as oxidation and the effects of the air that may be present at the time of performing this process. To protect from these types of adverse elements there is a shielding gas, which is supplied to the welding bath via the same gun. The welding electrode is also coated with a material that releases the shielding gas and slag during the process.
The most common welding materials are metals; alloys such as aluminum and stainless steel are mainly used. In addition, plastic can also be welded.
The major difference in this process is that the heat source is hot air or electrical resistance to prevent it from burning.
Difference in welding for stainless steel
Returning to the previous point, welding is defined as the local joining of two pieces of metal by heat, with or without fusion, with or without the addition of filler, and with or without pressure. Depending on the type of steel, the welding method is used to make the joint of the pieces as uniform and aesthetic as possible.
Finding the right process will give us the best results and allow us to finish the job in less time. Ideally, we should always keep in mind the possibility of optimizing processes and stainless steel welding is no exception to this need.
It is essential to find the type of welding that will allow us to achieve the results we want. Below we present some of the most important types in steel.
Types of welding in stainless steel
TIG or Tungsten Inert Gas type welding
This type of technique uses a non-abrasive tungsten electrode to create an electric arc with the metal to be joined. This form of welding is generally used in a protective atmosphere created by an inert gas to avoid protecting the air around the welding.
When this type of welding is performed, a good quality finish and cleanliness are guaranteed, it is especially recommended for those pieces where the design and finishes are sought to be as similar as possible to the original metal.
This result also makes it ideal for thin pieces of no more than 7 mm thick.
Stainless steel welding by manual arc with coated electrode or SMAW
This type of welding is characterized by maintaining and creating an electric arc between the base material to be welded and the metal rod, which is called an electrode. In this process, the electrode is a coated wire in which the welder manually controls the process along and in the direction of the arc installed between the base metal or the piece to be worked on and the end of the electrode.
MIG or Metal Inert Gas welding for stainless steel
This process protects the inert gas by creating an electric arc between the consumable electrode and the base metal or workpiece. In this welding, which is perfect for stainless steel, both the weld and the arc will be protected from the atmosphere by a gas shield consisting of inert gases, most commonly argon or helium.
For better performance and wetting of the weld, small amounts of active gases such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen are sometimes used to achieve a better result and provide cleaner finishes.
At Ulbrinox you will find global solutions in the metallurgical industry. Check out our extensive catalog of stainless steel or request a quote on this website. Our experience is extensive, as we have been on the market since 1997, with us you will find the quality you are looking for.
