Abstract
Abstract
This chapter provides a basis for understanding the influence of stainless steel alloy composition and metallurgy on the welding process, which involves complex dynamics associated with melting, refining, and thermal processing. It begins with an overview of the welding characteristics of the categories of stainless steels, namely austenitic, duplex, ferritic, martensitic, and precipitation-hardening stainless steels. This is followed by a discussion of the selection criteria for materials to be welded. Various welding processes used with stainless steel are then described. The chapter ends with a section on some of the practices to ensure safety and weld quality.