Figure 1: The high-silicon GTAW cut lengths from The Lincoln Electric CoThe steel industry has been declared essential and continues to produce the high-strength products we rely on in many sectors of manufacturing. According to the World Steel Association, the global demand for steel will contract by 6.4%, dropping to 1,654 metric tons due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Reference 1). However, in 2021, the demand for steel is forecast to recover to 1,717 metric tons, an increase of 3.8 % (Reference 1).
To serve better this industry, the welding sector continues to release products that make working with steel faster and more efficient. The following highlights four new products for the steel industry.
GTAW cut lengths offered in three stainless steel alloys
Produced by The Lincoln Electric Co., the high-silicon gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) cut lengths (Figure 1) come in three stainless steel alloys. The alloys are ER308Si/308LSi, best for 304 or 304L stainless steels and 18-8 steels; ER309Si/309LSi, recommended for joining stainless steel to mild or low alloy steel and ER316Si/316LSi, suggested for added corrosion resistance on molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steels. Its high silicon levels deliver a fluid pool and greater toe wetting for a number of materials, applications and welder preferences.
Its clean surface treatment also provides consistent bead stacking while reducing inclusions in the weld. The cut lengths are Q2 Lot® tested, with a certificate showing actual wire composition and calculated ferrite number available online. Additionally, the American Welding Society classification information is inkjet-printed on the entire length of the rod. Whether used by industrial fabricators in traditional metal-forming applications or for aftermarket small shop work, the cut lengths achieve a clean and consistent weld.
Manual laser welding machine joins multiple metals
Figure 2: The manual laser welding machine from Know-How Innovative SolutionsDeveloped by Know-How Innovative Solutions, the manual laser welding machine (Figure 2) works with and without a wire supply to weld a variety of materials in similar and dissimilar joints. It welds aluminum, stainless steel, copper and steel from 0.5 mm thick up to 15 mm complete joint penetration. Its joint configurations can be under regulations (butt, overlap, fillet, etc.), and its processes can be qualified by any existing code.
Made in Spain, the machine delivers manual welding speeds from 13 ft/min (4 m/min) up to approximately 23 ft/min (7 m/min). The absence of heat-affected areas, distortions or deformations allow for geometrically controlled welding and high metallurgical quality. The machine also offers easy welding in any position and simplicity in execution.
FCAW wire strengthens wear resistance
Co-created by SSAB and Hardox® Wearparts, the Duroxite® 200 flux cored arc welding (FCAW) wire (Figure 3) forms an overlay with chromium-rich carbides (primary) and refined multialloy carbides (coexisting) to enhance wear and impact resistance. When welding multiple layers, the same wear resistance is provided from the surface down to 75% of the overlay thickness.
Figure 3: The Duroxite 200 FCAW wire from SSAB and Hardox Wearparts
The welding wire is designed for severe abrasive wear and moderate impact up to 1,100° F (600° C). It can be used for capping, routine maintenance and repair work, including sand and earthmoving equipment (e.g., buckets and teeth), railway ballast tampers, dredge buckets and lips, dragline buckets, coke hammers, rippers, sizing screens and crushing equipment. The welding wires are designed for mild steel, quenched and tempered steel, cast materials and stainless steel.
Abrasive wheels designed for pipe welding applications
Established by Rex-Cut Abrasives, the line of alumina zirconia abrasive wheels (Figure 4) for pipe welding applications include the Velocity Pipeliner and Velocity Grinding Wheel. The Velocity Pipeliner can withstand the pressures of pipe beveling and root-pass grinding in the oil and gas pipeline industry. Its grain and hard-bond blend provide long life and enhanced wheel performance on stainless steel and high tensile alloys. The 30-grit wheel comes in sizes 4 1/2 x 5/32 x 7/8 and 4 1/2 x 5/32 x 5/8–11 in.
Figure 4: The alumina zirconia abrasive wheels from Rex-Cut Abrasives
The 1/4-in.-thick grinding wheel is for general fabrication applications, such as heavy weld grinding, beveling hard steels, grinding casting parting lines or removing weld deposits. It has a maximum stock removal rate with an extended wheel life on stainless steel and ferrous metals, such as structural steel and iron. The 24-grit grinding wheel comes in sizes 4 ½ x ¼ x 7/8 and 4 ½ x ¼ x 5/8–11 in.
