Stainless Steel Training
The stainless steel industry and several professional associations have developed some very useful educational programs, available free or reasonably priced. In combination with our downloadable resources, they are a great way for engineers, fabricators, architects, and other decision makers to increase their knowledge quickly.
Stainless Steel Specialist Course
This worldstainless 17 module training program is designed to improve knowledge of stainless steel and its properties, performance and applications using interactive e-learning modules. It is suitable for all engineers, fabricators, architects, sales and marketing staff, and others working with stainless steel.
Users can select the specific modules that are relevant to their information needs. A certificate of completion is provided after passing a test, identifying the specific modules studied. The cost is US$30 per module. Learn more about the Stainless Steel Specialist Course.
The following modules are available:
- Introduction to Stainless Steel - austenitic, ferritic, duplex, martensitic, and precipitation hardening stainless steels
- Stainless Steel vs Corrosion: How stainless steel is affected by and resists corrosion - corrosion process, passivity, general corrosion, galvanic corrosion, erosion/abrasion, intergranular corrosion, pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking
- Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel - mechanical properties, austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, duplex, and precipitation hardening stainless steels
- Surface Finish on Stainless Steels - design, finish and fabrication, mill forms, fabrication and special finishing methods, pickling and passivation, cleaning stainless steel, care on site and erection, and routine cleaning and maintenance
- Fabricating Corrosion Resisting and Stainless Steels - corrosion resistance, storage, handling, forming and cutting, welding, fabrication, and passivating
- Cutting of Stainless Steels - mechanical cutting, thermal cutting, and new technology
- Metallurgy of Stainless Steels - history, classifications, and characteristics of stainless steels
- Welding and Joining of Stainless Steels - nature of stainless steel, weldability, processes, shielding gases, dissimilar metals, and fume control
- Machining Stainless Steels - tooling, cutting fluids, corrosion resistance, drilling, turning, tapping, die threading, thread rolling, reaming, and milling
- Practical Considerations for Designing in Stainless Steel - resistance to environment, mechanical properties, fabrication, economic considerations
- Stainless Steel and Stainless Alloy Castings - processes, classifications, chemical composition, microstructure, heat treatment, machining, welding, mechanical properties, and applications of stainless steel castings
- Forging Stainless Steels - production of forging, starting stock for forging, heating for forging, cooling after forging, and post forging requirements
- Stainless Steel Pipe and Tube - production manufacturing processes, welding processes, finishing operations, longitudinally welded vs seamless, forming, and applications
- Cold Forming Stainless Steels - stainless steel formability and forming processes
- Deep Drawing of Stainless Steels - properties and practical considerations for deep forming processes
- Stainless Steel and Stainless Alloys at High Temperature - mechanical properties and corrosion resistance
- Ferritic Stainless Steels - properties, performance, availability and considerations for fabrication
Stainless Steels Self-Study Course
ASM International’s in-depth Stainless Steel Self-Study Course is intended for designers, technicians, fabricators, engineers, process engineers and maintenance engineers. It assumes at least a basic knowledge of the mechanical properties of steel. There is a fee. The following modules are available:
- Introduction to Stainless Steels: designations for wrought and cast alloys; common characteristics; general classifications; austenitic, martensitic, ferritic, precipitation-hardening and other stainless steels; cryogenic applications
- Physical Metallurgy of Stainless Steels: transformations in pure iron; iron-iron carbide system; iron-nickel, iron-chromium, iron-chromium-carbon and iron-chromium-nickel alloys; special additions to stainless steels
- Properties of Austenitic Stainless Steels: nomenclature and compositions; physical and mechanical properties; mechanical properties of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels; impact properties of cold-worked steels; fatigue properties
- Properties of Martensitic and Ferritic Stainless Steels: martensitic stainless steels; response of individual grades; effect of factors related to heat treatment; properties of ferritic stainless steels; sensitization; uses of ferritic stainless steels
- Heat- and Corrosion-Resistant Alloy Castings
- Properties of Precipitation-Hardening
- Heat Treating
- Forging, Machining, Cleaning and Finishing
- Cold Forming
- Deep Drawing
- Metallurgy of Welding
- Joining
- Corrosion of Metals
- Corrosion Resistance
- Stainless Steels at High Temperature
Stainless Steels and Metallurgy for the Non-Metallurgist courses
Both of these 4-day intensive live courses are conducted by ASM International at regular intervals. There is a fee.
The Stainless Steels course is intended for the same audience as the Stainless Steels Self-Study Course. Attendees will understand the mechanical and physical properties of the different stainless steels, alloy selection for specific applications, troubleshooting corrosion failure problems and the best processes to use in the manufacture of stainless steel components.
The Metallurgy for the Non Metallurgist course is for those involved in manufacturing, engineering and construction who need an understanding of metals, their behavior, relative strength, corrosion resistance and shaping by casting, forging, forming, machining, or welding.
Designing structural stainless steel
Excellent resources for learning more about designing structures with stainless steel are available. A selection of webinars, presentations, and online courses are detailed below, most of which are free or low cost. These can be used in combination with our downloadable free building and construction library and resource pages.
American Institute of Steel Construction/ASTM
AISC offers a 3-part webinar series on designing durable and resilient stainless steel structures with the new AISC 370-21 specification. The series is available here through AISC’s Learning Portal. It covers how to choose the right stainless steel alloy for a specific project, through to designing members and connections, with practical advice on fabrication and installation.
Speakers: Catherine Houska, Nancy Baddoo, Francisco Meza, Jason Provines, and Benjamin Baer
Free to view.
Part 1: Structural Stainless Steel Applications and Specification (presented live 05/05/22)
This presentation introduces the new AISC 370 Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings, explains its necessity and how both the specification and properties of stainless steel differ from those of carbon steel. An overview of structural alloys, applications, and available product forms is given, followed by guidance on how to assess the corrosiveness of the service environment, select an appropriate stainless steel family and alloy, and specify in accordance with ASTM and AISC 370 requirements.
Part 2: Structural Stainless Steel Design (presented live 05/12/22)
This session leads the designer through the process of designing stainless steel tension members, beams, and columns in accordance with the new standard, AISC 370 Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings, highlighting the differences compared to the rules for carbon steel in AISC 360 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. Methods of analysis unique to structural stainless steel, including the continuous strength method, are discussed, as are structural performance at elevated temperatures.
Part 3: Structural Stainless Steel Connections and Fabrication (presented live 05/19/22)
The principles of designing stainless steel bolted and welded connections are covered in this session, with a comparison provided between the new standard, AISC 370 Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings, and the analogous standard for carbon steel, AISC 360. The discussion addresses connection design for both strength and corrosion. Best practice fabrication procedures are also presented. An overview of the key differences between the new standard, AISC 313 Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings, and the analogous standard for carbon steel, AISC 303, is discussed.
Eurocode
A one-hour webinar on designing structural stainless steel to Eurocode specification, along with instruction manuals and other resources, are is available in 10 languages here.
Speaker: Nancy Baddoo
Stainless steels for lecturers and students of architecture and civil engineering
worldstainless has developed 11 short and informative educational modules for architecture and civil engineering students and educators. No prior knowledge of stainless steel is required. The modules can be downloaded in pdf or in a zipped PowerPoint file format:
These courses are also available in French, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish on the worldstainless website.
IMOA AIA webinars
IMOA is an American Institute of Architects (AIA) accredited provider that hosts regular webinars with Catherine Houska, an internationally renowned expert in architectural and structural metals. Presentations cover a range of topics involving stainless steel from new standards development to design and fabrication guidance.
Click on the links below to view these free, informative webinars.
Sunscreen and shade design with stainless steel: 27 June 2023
Stainless Steel for Sustainable Design: 16 May 2023
Stainless Steel Selection to Avoid Corrosion: 25 April 2023
Intro to Finish Specification: 8 Nov 2022
Planning for Disaster: Stainless Steel Resilient Design: 11 Oct 2022
New Specifications for Stainless Steel Structural Design: 4 Oct 2022
Additional Resources
Additional courses, workshops, and symposiums are often available from stainless steel development associations, professional associations and standard setting organizations such as AMPP and ASTM International. Please look at their websites for more information.
