Which material is commonly associated with difficulty in oxygen-fuel cutting processes?

The material commonly associated with difficulty in oxygen-fuel cutting processes is stainless steel. This is primarily due to its alloying elements, such as chromium and nickel, that give it its corrosion-resistant properties but also make it more challenging to cut. The high melting temperature of stainless steel can lead to incomplete cuts and poor quality edges when using oxygen-fuel processes.

When cutting stainless steel, oxygen may not react as effectively with the metal as it does with carbon steel, which can cause issues in maintaining the proper cut quality and speed. Additionally, the formation of an oxide layer on stainless steel can further impede effective cutting.

In contrast, materials like carbon steel are generally easier to cut using oxygen-fuel processes because they react more readily with oxygen, leading to a cleaner and more efficient cutting operation. Aluminum and bronze also present their own challenges but are not as specifically problematic for oxygen-fuel cutting compared to stainless steel.