Stainless steel welding projects shouldn’t be a hassle. Here at Silver Engineering Works, we want to provide you with the best service possible. With our extensive welding experience, we can weld a variety of shapes, such as channels, bar, sheet, angles, plate and tubing. We are able to weld materials much thinner than what’s possible with traditional machine tools. Our applications range from tiny machine parts to large, heavy machinery. We are confident that our welders are capable of meeting your needs, and we will do whatever it takes to be the solution to your welding services.
You want the best stainless steel for your project, but which grade should you choose? 304L has superior corrosion resistance due to its lower Chromium content. 316L is preferred for applications where high strength is required, such as vessels with heavy loads, because it has a higher Chromium content.
Applications of Stainless Steel Welding
What are some of the welding applications that 304L and 316L stainless steel grades are commonly used in?
304L’s corrosion resistance is very desirable for projects where this steel will be exposed to salt water or organic materials. Pure water, for example, is not acidic enough to corrode 304L stainless steel, but this grade is still vulnerable to attack from compounds like hydrochloric acid. This makes 304L a good choice for applications where it will come in contact with acidic chemicals.
316l has higher strength than 304l which makes it a better choice when high loads are involved. Pure water, on the other hand, does not have the ability to significantly affect 316l stainless steel because of its higher chromium content. It can withstand up to 5% sulfuric acid without rusting while 304l only resists up to 1%.
Industries that Use Stainless Steel Welding
- Medical – the medical industry relies heavily on the use of stainless steel to produce surgical tools that are not reactive or toxic. They are strong enough to withstand temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit without warping or losing their strength. This makes them able to endure sterilization processes found in hospitals.
- Hospitality – the food industry also uses stainless steel extensively, since it doesn’t affect the flavor of food like other metals might. Many meat stretchers and meat grinders will have blades made out of this material so that it’s easy for them to slice through tough meat easily by using little power without tiring the operator’s arm either.
- Construction – when building skyscrapers, many structural components such as beams, pipes, and other parts may be made from stainless steel to resist corrosion over time while adding strength to the overall structure of the building. Tanks are constructed from 304L stainless steel with walls three inches thick when storing corrosive material at high pressure. The pipelines are usually situated underground due to their high durability when exposed to extreme weather conditions, ground movements, seismic events, or accidental damage by excavation machinery.
We have in-house experts and staff that will work closely with you on every aspect of the process, including pre-planning, execution and consultation on both welding processes as well as fabrication coming afterward. Ask us for more information today!
