316L stainless steel pipe weld rapid cooling method

CHANGSHA, China - April 9, 2025 - PRLog -- 1. Insufficient air cooling

Air cooling is a common cooling method. After each weld is welded, compressed air is used to cool it. However, the effect of this method is not ideal. Due to the limited cooling capacity of compressed air, the cooling rate of the weld is slow. Usually, it takes more than 20 minutes for the weld temperature to drop to about 40°C. Such a cooling rate is far from meeting some occasions with high requirements for welding quality. For example, in the manufacture of some precision instruments, slow cooling may cause stress concentration at the weld, thus affecting the accuracy and reliability of the instrument.

2. Limitations of water immersion cooling on the back of the weld

Another cooling method is to first weld one side with a primer, and then immerse the back of the weld in water for cooling. This method has some improvements over air cooling and can speed up the cooling speed to a certain extent. However, its cooling effect is still not ideal. It takes more than 15 minutes for each weld to drop to about 40°C. Moreover, immersion cooling may cause oxidation and other problems at the weld, affecting the quality of the weld. In addition, immersion cooling also needs to consider issues such as the waterproofness of the equipment, which increases the complexity of the operation.

3. Advantages of water cooling at the weld

On the basis of immersion cooling, watering the weld surface can further speed up the cooling speed. This method combines the good thermal conductivity of water and the characteristics of flow heat dissipation, and can quickly take away the heat at the weld. Experimental data show that it only takes about 3 minutes for each weld to drop to about 40°C. This rapid cooling method can effectively reduce the heat-affected zone at the weld, refine the grains, and improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the weld. At the same time, the weld water cooling operation is relatively simple, low-cost, and suitable for welding operations of all sizes.

Experimental data show that the weld water cooling can reduce the temperature of each weld to about 40°C in just about 3 minutes, greatly improving the welding efficiency. At the same time, after strict welding process evaluation, the weld quality of the 316L stainless steel pipe welded by this method is qualified, and the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance meet the requirements of relevant standards.
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