As you all know, stainless steel is the steel with the greatest feature of extremely high resistance to corrosion or oxidation. Therefore, it is applied in many fields and professions in today’s life. So what types of stainless steel are there? How to choose right TIG welding rod for stainless steel? All will be shared by weldfaq in detail in the article below.
What are the Most Common Types of Stainless Steel?
In actuality, there are four primary kinds of stainless steel compositions available today: Austenitic, Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex), Ferritic và Martensitic. These stainless steels differ in their characteristics and intended uses.
1. Austenitic stainless steel
This is the type of steel that is currently most widely utilized. This stainless steel has a minimum of 0.08% carbon content and a maximum of 16% chromium, 7% nickel, and 7% nickel.
When these elements are combined, Austenitic steel products benefit greatly from increased corrosion resistance for items constructed of this form of stainless steel.
Its surface won’t be affected by high temperatures, even if they are applied to it. Additionally, one of this steel’s most fundamental qualities is its flexibility, which makes it simple to carry out machining, welding, or bending operations.
The most frequent use of austenitic steel is in the manufacture of some home appliances, commercial pipes, ships, and other construction projects.
2. Austenitic – Ferritic stainless steel (Duplex)
One of the stainless steels that has less nickel than other steels is austenitic-ferritic (Duplex). Its great strength, good bearing capacity, and comparatively stable flexibility are all a result of the steel structure.
Austenitic-Ferritic stainless steel is widely utilized in a variety of industries, including the petrochemical industry, shipbuilding, pulp, and the paper industry.
3. Ferritic stainless steel
This steel has unusually strong corrosion resistance despite having mechanical and mechanical qualities close to mild steel since its primary component, chromium, accounts for 12 to 17% of its composition.
About 12% of this steel’s utilization is in applications, with architecture accounting for the majority of them. Construction and the production of domestic goods like washing machines, boilers, and other appliances utilize up to 17% of the total energy supply.
4. Martensitic stainless steel
Only 11–13% of martensitic stainless steel includes chromium. Martensitic steel will have the remarkable quality of having strong hardness and good bearing capacity, but its corrosion resistance will only be ordinary due to the high chromium concentration.
Martensitic grade stainless steel has a higher carbon content, nickel, and frequently molybdenum content, making it very strong and resilient but with reduced corrosion resistance. Some stainless steels can change after heat treatment or with the addition of chromium from a martensite to an austenitic alloy.
Turbine blades are made from martensitic stainless steel, which is also used to build other blades.
Best TIG welding rod for 304 stainless steel
The best TIG welding rod for 304 stainless steel is typically a 308L rod. This is because the 308L rod is designed to weld 304 stainless steel and will provide the most weld strength and corrosion resistance.
The “L” in 308L stands for low carbon, which helps to prevent cracking in the finished weld. It can also be used for welding other types of austenitic stainless steels, like 309, 310 and 316.
Best TIG welding rod for 316 stainless steel
The best TIG welding rod for 316 stainless steel is typically a 316L rod. This is because the 316L rod is designed to weld 316 stainless steel and will provide the most weld strength and corrosion resistance.
The “L” in 316L stands for low carbon, which helps to prevent cracking in the finished weld. 316 stainless steel is the second most common type used in the stainless steel family, it’s common in marine, food, and chemical processing applications.
Frequently asked questions (Weld FAQ)
How to choose right TIG welding rod for stainless steel?
Use a filler rod that is smaller in diameter than the metal being welded’s thickness in general. The rod diameter should be a little bit less than the metal being welded if the base metal is less than 1/8 inch thick.
Use a smaller dimension for stainless steel sheet than you would for carbon steel. This is advantageous since thin stainless steel often requires less amperage than carbon steel does. A big rod cools the puddle at low amperages, which can lead to uneven graining.
What is the thickness of the material I will be welding?
Some welding rods are better suited for thicker materials while others are better for thinner materials.
What is the application or service environment of the welded structure?
Depending on the service environment, different welding rods may be needed to ensure the best corrosion resistance.
What is the welding position?
Some welding rods are better suited for flat and horizontal positions, while others are better for vertical or overhead positions.
Rounding It Up
How to choose right TIG welding rod for stainless steel?
The TIG feeder rod of choice depends on a number of variables. Your choice may be influenced by the base metal’s composition, the type of joint, the workpiece’s thickness, its cleanliness, and the metal’s thermal qualities.
Additionally, it would be important to make sure the rod is proper for the power source you will use, as well as having proper knowledge of the material and welding technique.
