Different types of stainless steel has different welding properties

If you are thinking about the steel fabrications, it is wise to perhaps think about the welding requirements later. After all, the steel fabrications are done by using different types of steel alloys. Now, they have different properties, and features. Therefore, it is important that you choose the right alloy for the purpose. Remember, some of the alloys provide high corrosive resistance. But, they may not be high in terms of the machinability. So, it is really essential that you choose the right material that will complement the purpose and the environment of the fabrication. Another very important factor to consider is of course the welding properties. Actually, there are some steel alloys that can’t be used for welding.

A great exception to this is of course the austenitic stainless steel. This is the type is readily welded. The great thing with this type is that every type of electric welding methods can be utilized for this purpose. The standard equipments are useful for the welding process. However, you must note that these facilities are not applicable to the free machine grade versions of this type of stainless steel. If you are thinking about heavy sections that need welding, you should be going for the stabilized grades or grades that contain low carbon. However, you can also use the improved machinability grades for this purpose.

Another type of steel that you can use for welding is the duplex steel. Though they are not as good as the austenitic types, still you can use all the standard methods and consumables though the 2209 is the most used. However, the good thing with this type of steel is that it is less coefficient in thermal expansion than the austenitic steel and in fact, matches the carbon steels in this regard.

The next type is the martensitic stainless steel. This steel too, can be welded. However, one must take some precautions to make it effective. For, it generally produces extremely hard and brittle zone attached to the place of welding. So, one must take a lot of care in the pre heating to make sure that there is no crack occurring there. Sometimes, people weld this steel with the austenitic steel filler rods to improve the ductility of the deposits.

Finally, there is the Ferritic stainless steel which is the worst choice in case of welding. They have excessive grain growth, they lack ductility and they have sensitization – all three hampering the welding properties of the type.