Weldability of austenitic stainless steel by metal arc welding with different shielding gas

During fusion welding the molten metal is shielded from contact with the atmospheric gas by means of a gaseous flux. The shielding gas prevents weld embrittlement, affects welding quality, because of its influence on filler metal transfer, and has a direct impact on welding costs as well. Argon is the most common shielding gas, often used with some adds of other gases that can be inert, as helium, or active, as CO2, O2 or H2. In this work the effects of mixtures with different composition have been considered for the arc welding of austenitic steels. Metallographic samples of welded sections have been undergone to visual and optical microscopy observations, microhardness trials, indentation and tensile test.