This category of articles contains some of the commonly welded metals in the industry, their properties, methods of testings to determine their properties, and welding consumables used to weld these base metals with various welding processes.
The electrodes used in flux-cored arc welding are made up of a flux core, surrounded by a metal sheath. The primary function of flux at the core of the wire is to provide shielding to the arc from the oxidizing gases in the atmosphere such as oxygen and nitrogen. The metal sheath accounts for 75 … Read more
Welding consumables are an important part of welding. Having a quality electrode in hand is vital to the quality of joint to be made. In this article, we shall see some aspects of electrodes and filler rods used for welding. The most authoritative classification of welding consumables has been done by American Welding Society (AWS). … Read more
The classification system for SMAW electrodes is identical between AWS (American Welding Society) and ASME BPVC. In this article, we shall take reference from ASME BPVC Section II Part C for studying various electrode classification. The SMAW electrodes are classified under the following specifications in ASME Section II Part C. SFA 5.1: specification for carbon … Read more
Magnesium is a very light weight metal. It has good machinability and corrosion resistance. When alloyed with small quantities of other metals such as aluminum, manganese, zinc, zirconium, etc., its’ properties can be further improved to sit a variety of applications. It also has a very low melting point. However, magnesium is a very reactive … Read more
Titanium is a useful metal that is used in a wide variety of applications due to its’ excellent properties. It has low density, has good strength, has a lustrous silvery appearance, and has excellent resistance to corrosion. Welding titanium is considered a difficult prospect; however it can be done by following the requisite cleanliness guidelines. … Read more
The welding consumables in the welding process come in a variety of forms. For shielded metal arc welding, the filler comes in the form of a flux covered stick electrode. For flux-cored arc welding, it comes in the form of spooled wires that have flux at the core, and a metal sheath around it. In … Read more
When molten metal is exposed to air, it reacts with oxygen and nitrogen present in the air. As a result, metal oxides form which are detrimental to the integrity and strength of the weld. Hence, it is required to protect the molten metal from this oxidation. In covered electrodes, this protection is provided by the … Read more
Carbon steel is the most extensively used metal in fabrication industry. This article discusses some hands-on advice on how to weld carbon steel. Three short sections focusing on welding of low carbon steels, medium carbon steels and high carbon steels have been included. This advice is equally useful for a welder as well as a … Read more
Low carbon steel is the most common type of steel found in the industry. Welding low carbon steel does not pose any great difficulties to an experienced welder. It is considered an easy task, low carbon steel is the most weldable of all. However, there are a few basics that must always be borne in … Read more
This article discusses about welding of medium carbon steel. It offers a few pieces of advice for obtaining a quality weld. Introduction The carbon content in medium carbon steel ranges from 0.30 to 0.55 percent. After welding, these steels are heat treated to relieve the residual stresses. Medium carbon steel is fabricated in the bar … Read more