Improving 400 series weld seams in tube, pipe production

摘要

Although stainless steels can have quite a few alloying elements, such as nickel, manganese, molybdenum, and silicon, the ability to resist corrosion is based on the presence of just one of them, chromium. Chromium combines with oxygen to form chromium oxide, which is the compound that prevents rust formation. The downside is that chromium oxide impedes bonding, especially when the alloy is subjected to very high temperatures such as those found in a tube or pipe mill's weld box. Many tube and pipe producers that make 400 series products weld the seam as it is, without additives or fillers, and risk the problems associated with oxidation.