Some effects of the nitrogen introduction in argon shielding gas in TIG welding of stainless steels

Abstract

In the case of austenitic stainless steels, nitrogen can be considered as an alloying element. One reason is that the nitrogen interstitially dissolved in the crystal lattice of iron contributes to improved tensile properties, primarily of the yield point. In addition, thanks to its strong austenite-forming action, it contributes to increasing the stability of austenite, thereby enabling partial substitution of expensive and scarce nickel. Alloying of the weld metal of austenitic stainless steels with nitrogen can affect its properties. In welding processes with gas protection, weld metal can also be alloyed through the addition of nitrogen in the shielding gas. This paper discusses some of the effects of the addition of nitrogen in argon shielding gas at TIG welding of austenitic stainless steel X5 CrNi 18 10.