{"id":907,"date":"2022-03-28T09:38:31","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T09:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/welderacademy.com\/?p=907"},"modified":"2022-03-28T09:47:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T09:47:14","slug":"what-types-of-steel-can-be-welded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/welderacademy.com\/what-types-of-steel-can-be-welded\/","title":{"rendered":"What Types Of Steel Can Be Welded?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a plethora of metals and alloys. Steel, in particular, has different types and grades of alloys. Their properties vary due to different compositions, so their weldability is also diverse. Different steel types behave differently to welding. As steel is one of the most widely used metals; what type of steel can be welded<\/strong> is crucial knowledge that every welder should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While pretty much every type of steel can be welded with precautions and preemptive measures, low-carbon steels are the best for welding. Their properties are suitable for welding and show no tendency of post-welding cold cracking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"welding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As I’ve said above, there are a lot of steels and their alloys that a welder has to come across in his line of work. So, good command in different steel types and their properties related to welding is the precursor to being the best at welding. And that is exactly what I will be teaching you in this article. Without further ado, let\u2019s get right to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different Steel Types And Their Weldability<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are so many different types of steel depending on the type and percentage of compounds and the manufacturing process. Each type has varying properties which determine its weldability. Let’s have a look at steel types and how well they can be welded with modern welding techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbon <\/strong>S<\/strong>teel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carbon steel is iron, carbon, and manganese. The variation depends on the amount of carbon and manganese, which brings us to the following varieties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low Carbon Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low carbon steels contain 0.1-0.3% carbon and about 0.4% manganese. These types of steel have pretty good weldability. Carbon content between 0.12-0.25% is best for welding. Steels with more carbon than the upper extreme are prone to cracking. Also, if the carbon amount is below 0.12%, it can cause porosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low carbon steels can be welded using any welding type as long as the impurities are low. They are used in construction and bridge parts, pipes, drink cans etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medium Carbon Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In medium carbon steels, the carbon and manganese amounts are 0.3-0.6% and 0.6-1.6%, respectively. Although they are stronger, the higher carbon content makes them susceptible to cracking; hence medium carbon steels are difficult to weld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The low hydrogen process is the welding of choice for these types of steel. Automobile industries extensively use medium carbon steels to make axles, crankshafts, shafts, couplings, gears etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High Carbon Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

High carbon steels have 0.3-0.9% manganese and 0.6-1% carbon. They are stronger than the previous two. But due to being too hard, high carbon steels are difficult to weld because they crack easily. Fillers with low hydrogen content and a low hydrogen welding process are necessary to weld these steels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to their extreme hardness and strength, high carbon steels are used to make cutting and masonry tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbon-manganese Steel (CMn)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manganese-carbon steels have carbon content up to 0.5% and manganese up to 1.7%. They are weldable but may require prior measures like preheating, heat input control, etc. Manganese steels are used for making mining products like rock crushers, cement mixers, tractor parts, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stainless Steel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stainless steel has 1.2% carbon or less and approximately 11% chromium. This composition makes stainless steel rust and heat resistant. There are three main types of stainless with differing welding properties. Let’s take a look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austenitic Stainless Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austenitic stainless steels have 16-26% chromium, about 22% nickel, and a low amount of carbon. They have improved properties such as corrosion resistance, high strength, etc. Austenitic steels are the best among stainless steels for welding as they require no heat treatment post or before welding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martensitic Stainless Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martensitic stainless steels have around 12-18% chromium, a high carbon percentage, and little to no nickel. These alloys have better wear resistance, fatigue resistance, and strength than austenitic steel, but they are more prone to corrosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When martensitic steel cools, it becomes brittle and cracks. It is the reason these types of steel are not good for welding. You can weld them with some precautions, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferritic Stainless Steel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferritic stainless steel has more than 12% chromium and different chemical composition and molecular structure. They are brittle and have low corrosion resistance. At high temperatures, rapid gain growth results in brittle HAZ. That’s why ferritic steels are not good for welding. However, if the workpiece has a thickness less than 6mm thickness, you can weld it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tool Steel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tools steel has 2.5% carbon content. As more carbon means poor weldability, you can realize these steels are not good for welding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alloy Steel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alloy steels are iron, carbon, and various elements like chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, etc. These steels have enhanced hardness hence poor weldability. When welding them, factors like preheat, cooling rate, post-weld treatment need to be kept under observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nickel Steel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nickel steel contains around 3% nickel. The range is usually 1-3%. In terms of weldability, nickel steels behave the same as carbon steel. More nickel means increased hardenability and decreased weldability. You can weld nickel steel carefully by the low hydrogen welding process. Nickel steels with more than 5% nickel content are not weldable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are nearly impossible to weld without cracking. Even with low nickel steels, using a low hydrogen process and controlled hydrogen fillers is mandatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types Of Metals That Can Be Welded<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Welding is a very old and widely used method of joining metals. You can weld every metal<\/a> to a certain extent, but not all metals respond the same to welding. Understanding various metals and their weldability is the key to becoming a proficient welder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welding is about extreme heat. Different metals react differently to a temperature which I\u2019m sure you already have some idea of. Also, different welding types are meant for different metals. Here are the metals that you can weld:<\/p>\n\n\n\n