When durability, resistance to corrosion and the ability to withstand heat, cold or pressure is a concern, the choice of weld studs is going to be important. While some options will offer high corrosion, they may not be ideal in all temperature conditions.
Other alloys may offer stable properties in high or low temperatures, but they are problematic if exposed to salt spray or marine environments. This has long been a problem for engineers, at least until the development of Inconel.
Many people assume Inconel is a stainless steel alloy. However, that is not the case. In fact, this superalloy is made primarily of nickel-chromium with aluminum, which adds to its increased ability to withstand corrosion. Inconel Studs, due to their natural corrosion resistance are ideal for use in specific marine construction applications, in furnaces, in the construction of turbines, pressure tanks, and steam generators.
Weldability
Other reasons that Inconel Studs are a top choice for arc welding or capacitor discharge (CD) welding is the compatibility of most of the Inconel alloys. Within this group or family of alloys, there are 8 different options ranging from Inconel 600 to Inconel 939.
Of these alloys, 4 are considered at the good or above rating for weldability. The Inconel 939 alloy is actually gamma prime strengthened to increase weldability, which is important for large applications in the aerospace industry as it is naturally not as weldable as the other alloy options.
When working with Inconel studs, it will be essential to choose the alloy and the stud welding system that is right for the specific application. Generally, the CD welding systems are used when there is a thin base metal and small diameter weld studs. The drawn arc stud welding method is used with heavier base metals and larger diameter stud welds.
