Weld properties of plasma arc joined austenitic stainless steels

Tanju Teker; Sinan Aydın

doi:10.1515/mt-2025-0065

Article

Weld properties of plasma arc joined austenitic stainless steels

Tanju Teker
Prof. Dr. Tanju Teker, born in Sivas, works in Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Sivas, Türkiye. He graduated in Metallurgy Education from Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye, in 1997. He received his MSc and PhD degrees from Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye in 2004 and 2010, respectively. His research interests include casting, welding technologies, material surface treatments, material process, and microstructure control.
and Sinan Aydın
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Aydın, born in 1975, works in the Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Sivas, Turkey. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey, in 1997. He received his MSc degree at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey in 2001 and PhD degree at Firat University, Elazig, Turkey in 2012. He studied welding methods, nanoparticles, and adhesive technologies.

Published/Copyright: June 9, 2025

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 67 Issue 8

Abstract

Stainless steel 304 is the commonly utilized grade within the 300 series in various industries. Welding is a prevalent technique for producing stainless steel structures. In this study, 5 mm thick AISI 304 sheets were joined by plasma welding. The joint interface was detected using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and microhardness. The mechanical properties of the bonded samples were evaluated by tensile testing. The fracture morphologies of the tensile test samples were examined. In single-pass plasma welding, perfect welds with full penetration were achieved. Both ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation percentage increased with the rise in welding current.

Keywords: plasma arc welding; stainless steel; microstructure; hardness; tensile test

Corresponding author: Tanju Teker, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Mechatronics Engineering, 58140, Sivas, Türkiye, E-mail: tanjuteker@cumhuriyet.edu.tr

About the authors

Tanju Teker

Prof. Dr. Tanju Teker, born in Sivas, works in Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Sivas, Türkiye. He graduated in Metallurgy Education from Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye, in 1997. He received his MSc and PhD degrees from Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye in 2004 and 2010, respectively. His research interests include casting, welding technologies, material surface treatments, material process, and microstructure control.

Sinan Aydın

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Aydın, born in 1975, works in the Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Technology, Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Sivas, Turkey. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey, in 1997. He received his MSc degree at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey in 2001 and PhD degree at Firat University, Elazig, Turkey in 2012. He studied welding methods, nanoparticles, and adhesive technologies.

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: No funding was received.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Published Online: 2025-06-09

Published in Print: 2025-08-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2025-0065

Keywords for this article

plasma arc welding; stainless steel; microstructure; hardness; tensile test