Select-Arc, Inc (www.select-arc.com) has developed two stainless steel, composite metal cored electrodes designed for welding weld ferritic stainless steels that contain 18 percent chromium.

The company said its Select 439C-Ti and Select 18CrCb-C electrodes are good options for fabricating fabricate automotive exhaust systems.

Select-Arc said the Select 439C-Ti electrode welds with a minimum of spatter and no burn through on thin material. It provides a stable arc transfer, even at relatively low current settings.

The electrode's titanium stabilization provides resistance to sensitization, reducing the chances of stress corrosion cracking when welding over lubricants, oils and other hydrocarbons. The company said the Select 439C-Ti electrode offers productivity-enhancing advantages over solid wires when welding on areas of poor fit up, on thin materials and on welds where gaps must be bridged.

The Select 18CrCb-C electrodes are designed for improved corrosion and oxidation resistance at higher temperatures, and are stabilized with columbium (niobium) to prevent carbide precipitation and subsequent sensitization cracking in the microstructure. The electrodes feature benefits similar to Select 439C-Ti when compared with solid wire.

Select-Arc said both of these new electrodes are good for welding exhaust system components such as mufflers, manifolds, catalytic converters and exhaust tubing. Select 18CrCb-C can also be utilized to weld thin stock and sheet steel of the same composition.