Resistance spot welding (RSW) is a process in which faying surfaces are joined in one or more spots by the heat generated by resistance to the flow of electric current through workpieces that are held together under force by electrodes. This article discusses the major advantages of spot welding and the three principal elements, such as electrical circuit, control circuit, and mechanical system, of RSW machines. It reviews the three basic types of RSW machines: pedestal-type welding machines, portable welding guns, and multiple spot welding machines. The article provides information on weldabilily of uncoated steels and zinc-coated steels, as well as aluminum alloys.

This article provides a discussion on the two basic steps of the batch hot dip galvanizing process: surface preparation and galvanizing. It describes the factors affecting coating thickness and coating structure. The mechanical properties of the coating and steel substrate are also discussed. The article also provides information on the various factors that should be considered before galvanizing a material. It examines the performances of galvanized coatings in corrosion service. The joining of galvanized structural members by bolting and welding is also discussed. The article describes the synergistic effects of galvanized and painted systems. It explains the applications of hot dip galvanized steel. The article concludes with information on pertinent galvanizing specifications under the authority of the American Society for Testing and Materials.

This article describes the surface modification treatments used to modify the tribological properties of titanium alloys. These include physical vapor deposition and thermochemical conversion treatments. The physical vapor deposition includes ion implantation, sputtering, evaporation, and ion plating surface modification treatments. The thermochemical conversion surface treatments include nitriding, carburizing, boriding, and solid lubrication.

Steel sheet is widely used for industrial and consumer products, partly because it is relatively strong, easily joined, and readily available at moderate cost. This article discusses the mechanical properties and formability of steel sheet, the use of circle grid analysis to identify the properties of complicated shapes, and various simulative forming tests. The mechanical properties of steel sheet that influence its forming characteristics, either directly or indirectly, can be measured by uniaxial tension testing. The article covers the effects of steel composition, steelmaking practices, and metallic coatings, as well as the correlation between microstructure and formability. A guide to the selection of steel sheet is also included. The formability of steel sheet is related to various microstructural features of the sheet. The article describes some of the forming characteristics of the more commonly used formable grades. It also lists the typical mechanical properties for common grades of hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheets.

This article describes the paint systems generally used to protect steel structures, steel sheet, and bridges from corrosion, and how they deter corrosion. It provides a discussion on the basic design criteria of steel structures for corrosion protection. The article also explains the differences between prepaint and postpaint, and the steps involved in prepaint processing of steel. It presents the selection guideline for paint system evaluation. The advantages of corrosion protection are also discussed.

This article discusses the factors to be considered in selecting and evaluating machining tests for the purpose of evaluating cutting tool performance and workpiece machinability. It provides a brief description of cutting tool materials, such as high-speed steels, uncoated and coated carbides, cermets, ceramics, cubic boron nitride, and polycrystalline diamond. The article considers the matrices that represent the range of tests performed on candidate cutting tool materials: the workpiece matrix, the property matrix, and the operation matrix. Various machine tests used to evaluate cutting tools, including the impact test, turning test, and facing test, are described. The article lists the factors to be taken into consideration in measuring the machinability of a material. The article presents general recommendations for proper chip groove selection on carbide tools and concludes with information on machining economics.

This article provides an overview of some common sheet steel coatings available. It discusses the formability differences between coated and bare steel and provides some general guidelines on the forming of coated steels. Coated steels are classified according to the nature of the substrate, the type of coating, and the method used for its application. The article describes various coating types for steels such as zinc-coated steels, aluminum-coated steels, tin-coated steels, terne-coated steels, and organic-coated steels.

This article begins with an overview of steel wire configurations and sizes followed by a discussion on various wiremaking practices. The wiredrawing operation is discussed, including cleaning, die design, use of lubricants and welds, finishes, coating, and thermal treatments. Metallic coatings can be applied to wire by various methods, including hot dip processes, electrolytic process, and metal cladding by rolling metallic strip over the wire. These wires are normally grouped into broad usage categories. These categories, as well as some items in each category, are described in the article under their quality descriptions or commodity names. These include low-carbon steel wire for general usage, wire for structural applications, wire for packaging and container applications, wire for prestressed concrete, wire for electrical or conductor applications, rope wire, mechanical spring wire for general use, wire for fasteners, mechanical spring wire for special applications, upholstery spring construction wire, and alloy wire.

Resistance seam welding (RSEW) is a process in which the heat generated by resistance to the flow of electric current in the work metal is combined with pressure to produce a welded seam. This article discusses the various classes of the RSEW process, namely roll spot welding, reinforced roll spot welding, and leak-tight seam welding. It provides information on the applications of lap seam weld, mash seam weld, and butt seam weld. The article reviews the advantages and limitations of seam welding compared to resistance spot welding, projection welding, and laser welding. It describes the four basic types of resistance seam weld machines: circular, longitudinal, universal, and portable. The article concludes with a discussion on weld quality and process control for seam welding.

This article describes the process applications, advantages, and limitations of resistance seam welding. The fundamentals of lap seam welding are also reviewed. The article details the types of seam welds, namely, lap seam welds and mash seam welds, and the processing equipment used for lap seam welding. The primary factors used to determine the selection of electrodes, including alloy type and wheel configuration, are reviewed. The article also describes weld quality and process control procedures.

This article presents information regarding the use of protective coatings in municipal potable water systems, including raw water collection and transmission, water treatment plants, and treated water distribution. It provides useful guidance for the selection and use of protective coatings in these municipal water systems. The most commonplace corrosion-damage mechanisms are highlighted. The article describes the most common materials of construction found in municipal water systems, namely, cast iron, ductile iron, carbon steel, precast concrete cylinder pipe and reinforced concrete pipe, prestressed concrete tanks, and stainless steel. It provides information on the most common generic coating systems used for new steel tanks and water storage tanks. It concludes with a discussion of quality watch-outs when selecting or using protective coatings in municipal water systems.