This article is focused on an analysis of factors negatively affecting the tube production process of tubes made from austenitic stainless steel with a very small diameter of ϕ 0.34 mm. The analysis was concentrated on factors that affect the drawing process stability of the seam tubes where the desired final dimensions—a diameter of ϕ 0.34 mm and a wall thickness of 0.057 mm—are limiting factors. Seam tubes made from steel 1.4306 and 1.4301, from producers KT and EW with a longitudinal weld line made by tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, were used as blanks for constituent drawing operations. It is desirable to provide sufficient inert gas flow and cooling during the formation of a weld joint in a protective atmosphere chamber. A significant temperature gradient prevents the formation of undesirable Cr₂₃C₆ carbides in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) which negatively affects the plasticity and formability of the steel and is the cause of technological fractures.

This work presents a new technology for joining dissimilar materials, Resistance Element Soldering (RES). This technology is fundamentally based on Resistance Element Welding (REW) technology; the difference is that the presented RES uses a bimetallic element composed of a hard Cu shell and a core made of Sn60Pb40 solder. The RES technology using the Cu/Sn60Pb40 bimetallic element was tested when joining a galvanized steel sheet (HX220BD-100MBO) to a thermoplastic (PMMA). The effect of the process parameters on the volume of the melted solder, the deformation of the element, and the structure of the soldered joint was investigated on the joints made. The final criterion for assessing the influence of the process parameters was the joint strength. Due to the low strength of PPMA, the maximum joint strength was determined on RES joints of galvanized steel sheet and aluminum. The results showed that, to ensure the joint strength at the level of the strength of the Sn60Pb40 solder used, a heat input of 952 J and a clamping force of 623 N are required. The mentioned parameters ensure the necessary conditions for the creation of a soldered joint with a galvanized steel sheet as well as the deformation of the bimetallic element to create a form-fit effect in the opening of the PMMA to create a mechanical connection.

The effect of mechanical properties on wear resistance of Si3N4 - SiC composite materials with different portions of SiC strengthening phase was investigated. Properties of monolithic silicon nitride were compared to ceramic composites consisting of Si3N4 matrix with 10 and 20 vol.% SiC. The SiC...

Resistance Element Soldering (RES) is one of the new methods of joining dissimilar materials by resistance heating using an element. Sn60Pb40 solder, which has been used for decades in tin smithing and the electrical industry, has already been tested for joining galvanized steel sheet with thermoplastic using RES. However, legal restrictions are currently moving towards prohibiting the use of lead in mass production. For this reason, the possibility of replacing Sn60Pb40 solder with Sn91Zn9 lead-free solder was verified. The results showed that with an appropriate choice of flux and resistance heating conditions, it is possible to replace Sn60Pb40 solder with Sn91Zn9 solder when joining galvanized steel sheet with thermoplastic using RES. With a suitable heat input during soldering, good conditions were achieved for wetting the base material with molten solder with a sufficient volume of remelted solder in the core of the Cu/Sn91Zn9 bimetallic element. The strength of the soldered joint made at a heat input of 901 J was measured at the level of 94% of the strength of Sn91Zn9 solder.

This study investigated the microstructure and properties of soldered joints of AISI 304 stainless steel and PMMA thermoplastic or AW-1050A aluminum alloys made using Resistance Element Soldering (RES) technology. The bimetallic element used in RES provided a mechanical joint with a thermoplastic or aluminum alloy and a soldered joint with AISI 304 steel using Sn60Pb40 solder in the core of the element. The solder in combination with the Chemet CHM-A-014 flux wetted the AISI 304 steel surface very well at a temperature of 225 °C with a contact angle of 14°. During the production of the joints, the solder melted in the bimetallic element on the AISI 304 steel side, while solid solder was retained at the point of contact with the welding electrode. The strength of the joints ranged from 25.5 to 36.4 MPa, which was less than the strength of the solder, and the joints failed at the AISI 304 steel–Sn60Pb40 solder interface. The fracture surface was predominantly formed by the solder. An intermetallic phase of FeSn₂ was identified at the interface.