Welding of Stainless Steels
Welding of Stainless Steels: General Concepts: Stainless steels, resumed here in a general way, are defined as steel alloys, where the chromium content ranges from 10.5% to 30%. There are five distinct types of stainless steel: Ferritic stainless steel: Contains from 10.5 to 30% chromium , is low in carbon, with some alloys containing major amounts of molybdenum, columbium and titanium. Austenitic stainless steel: Contains from 16% to 26% chromium and up to 35% nickel and have very low carbon content. Some of these steels are also alloyed with a minor amount of molybdenum, columbium and titanium. Martensitic alloy steel: Contains from 12% to 17% chromium and up to 4% nickel and 0.1% to 1.0% carbon. Some alloys will also have minor additions of molybdenum, vanadium, columbium, aluminum and copper. Duplex stainless alloys: Contain 18% to 28% chromium , 2.5% to 7.5% nickel and low carbon contents. Some of the alloys will al...