Editing Stainless steel (section)

== Joining ==

A wide range of joining processes are available for stainless steels, though [[welding]] is by far the most common.<ref name="Pierre-Jean-2007">{{Cite book|last=Pierre-Jean|first=Cunat|url=https://www.worldstainless.org/about-stainless/process-and-production/fabrication/|title=The Welding of Stainless Steels|date=2007|isbn=978-2-87997-180-3|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414011254/https://www.worldstainless.org/about-stainless/process-and-production/fabrication/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Nickel Institute">{{Cite web |title=Welding of stainless steels and other joining methods |url=https://nickelinstitute.org/en/library/technical-guides/welding-of-stainless-steels-and-other-joining-methods-9002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701021829/https://nickelinstitute.org/media/1854/weldingofstainlessssteelandotherjoiningmethods_9002_.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2021 |access-date=1 October 2021 |publisher=Nickel Institute}}</ref>

The ease of welding largely depends on the type of stainless steel used. Austenitic stainless steels are the easiest to weld by [[electric arc]], with weld properties similar to those of the base metal (not cold-worked). Martensitic stainless steels can also be welded by electric-arc but, as the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and the fusion zone (FZ) form martensite upon cooling, precautions must be taken to avoid cracking of the weld. Improper welding practices can additionally cause sugaring (oxide scaling) and heat tint on the backside of the weld. This can be prevented with the use of back-purging gases, backing plates, and fluxes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ultimate Guide - Stainless Steel - Fabrication, Grinding, and Finishing with Abrasives|url=https://www.empireabrasives.com/blog/stainless-steel-fabrication-weld-grinding-finishing-abrasives/|access-date=2021-06-28|website=Empire Abrasives|language=en|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630034722/https://www.empireabrasives.com/blog/stainless-steel-fabrication-weld-grinding-finishing-abrasives/|url-status=live}}</ref> Post-weld heat treatment is almost always required while preheating before welding is also necessary in some cases.<ref name="Nickel Institute" /> Electric arc welding of type 430 ferritic stainless steel results in grain growth in the HAZ, which leads to brittleness. This has largely been overcome with stabilized ferritic grades, where niobium, titanium, and zirconium form precipitates that prevent grain growth.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gordon|first1=Wayne|last2=van Bennekom|first2=A.|date=1996|title=Review of stabilization of ferritic stainless steels|journal=Materials Science and Technology|volume=12|issue=2|pages=126–131|doi=10.1179/mst.1996.12.2.126|bibcode=1996MatST..12..126G }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singh|first=Ramesh|date=2012|title=Chapter 6 - Welding corrosion resistant Alloys - Stainless Steel|journal=Applied Welding Engineering|pages=191–214|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-391916-8.00018-2|isbn=9780123919168}}</ref> Duplex stainless steel welding by electric arc is a common practice but requires careful control of the process parameters. Otherwise, the precipitation of unwanted intermetallic phases occurs, which reduces the toughness of the welds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Duplex stainless steel welding guidelines|url=https://industeel.arcelormittal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Duplex-Stainless-Steels-Welding-Guidelines-EN-Juin-2019-Web.pdf|date=2019|publisher=Industeel ArcelorMittal|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=6 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106143919/https://industeel.arcelormittal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Duplex-Stainless-Steels-Welding-Guidelines-EN-Juin-2019-Web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Electric arc welding processes include:<ref name="Pierre-Jean-2007" />

*[[Gas metal arc welding]], also known as MIG/MAG welding
*[[Gas tungsten arc welding]], also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding
*[[Plasma arc welding]]
*[[Flux-cored arc welding]]
*[[Shielded metal arc welding]] (covered electrode)
*[[Submerged arc welding]]

MIG, MAG and TIG welding are the most common methods.

Other welding processes include:

*[[Stud welding]]
*[[Resistance spot welding]]
*[[Resistance seam welding]]
*[[Flash welding]]
*[[Laser beam welding]]
*[[Oxy-fuel welding and cutting|Oxy-acetylene welding]]

Stainless steel may be bonded with adhesives such as silicone, [[silyl modified polymers]], and [[Epoxy#Adhesivese|epoxies]]. Acrylic and [[List of polyurethane applications#Adhesives|polyurethane]] adhesives are also used in some situations.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldstainless.org/about-stainless/process-and-production/fabrication/|title=Adhesive Bonding of Stainless Steels|last=Kosmac|first=Alenka|date=2013|pages=11–13|publisher=Euro Inox |isbn=978-2-87997-388-3|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414011254/https://www.worldstainless.org/about-stainless/process-and-production/fabrication/|url-status=live}}</ref>