Everything You Need to Know About Cellulosic Electrodes

A cellulose electrode is essentially a welding electrode that has a coating consisting of organic materials. 1/3rd of the weight of the coating consists of cellulose. Some welding electrodes manufacturers also add wood powder and paper pulp to the coating in order to reduce the amount of pure cellulose.

Cellulosic electrodes were first developed in the USA in the early 1930s and were widely preferred over the thinly coated electrodes during the decade. During the same time, welders began using cellulosic electrodes for the welding of pipelines.

Eventually, when other types of electrode coatings were manufactured, the usage of cellulosic electrodes dropped. However, even today, cellulosic electrodes continue to remain in favour when it comes to welding pipelines. Some Welding Electrodes Manufacturers in India also provide cellulosic electrodes that pass the 180-degree bend test.

Most Welding Electrodes Suppliers in India agree that a good cellulosic electrode fulfils the following requirements:

Along with these requirements, cellulosic electrodes must also contain the right amount of moisture. The high content of cellulose and moisture in the coating decomposes to form carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and high levels of hydrogen which leads to an increase in arc tension making the welding arc stronger and harder.

According to Welding Electrodes Suppliers, this has two advantages – optimum protection of the weld pool and a good amount of diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal and the heat-affected zone (HAZ)

This high hydrogen content also produces excellent penetration irrespective of the position in which the welding takes place. Along with a high level of penetration, the cellulosic electrode also provides accuracy, it possesses high endurance and has a long functional life. These characteristics make it an absolute favourite among welders.

Certain titanium compounds are also present in the coating that provide arc stability and also help in cleaning the slag easily.

When some amount of ferromanganese is added to the coating, it becomes possible to compensate for the manganese that is lost during the welding process because of oxidation and helps in deoxidizing the weld pool. Cellulosic electrodes are generally manufactured using a sodium silicate binder and hence, it is best to use them with DC (+) polarity.

In order to preserve the longevity of cellulosic electrodes, drying them after the production process must be avoided. Exposing these electrodes to the warmth of bright sunlight in dry areas is as equally damaging as baking the electrodes at low temperatures.

Also Read: Understanding Flux Core Welding Process and Useful Welding Tips

Conclusion

The best practice would be to place the cellulosic electrodes in the cool of the shade throughout the working day. Moreover, rehydrating the electrodes does not simply restore them to their former condition so the best thing to do is to discard the electrodes that have been exposed to unavoidable hot and/or dry conditions.

What Are the Four Types of Welding Processes?

Welders can change several of the largest and most powerful substances further into forms and items they picture as to when the flames fly as well as the temperature rises. It is a talent that takes time and effort to master, and it’s better mastered with the help and supervision of industry experts.

While going on, you must get acquainted with the full operating procedure from beginning to end and grasp every stage. As you go ahead, you will understand the importance of several aspects of the welding process such as welding machine maintenance among others to produce quality weld. 

Types of Welding Processes

These are the four main common types of welding techniques that you may need to acquaint yourself with.

Gas Metal Arc Welding

Gas Metal Welding is another name for this type of welding (MIG). It warms the two pieces of metal to be connected by passing shield gases all along the electrode wires. This procedure, which comprises plates and a larger caliber tube, needs a consistent volt and direct-current input supply and it is the largest prevalent commercial welding method.

Metal Transmission is Accomplished in Four Ways During the Welding Method

Considering the shape of the metallic particles as well as the likelihood of sprinkling, spherical transfer provides a coarser welding sheet. The technique is ideal for fusing heavy metal panels horizontally. Also, if you are unaware of the effective servicing methods, a Diffcor Supplier can assist you with repairs and service.

The welding wire hits the metal surface in a rapidly repetitive striking procedure several times per sec, which is known as short-circuiting.

As throughout operation, Spray Transfers transports small drops of molten steel in a very constant manner that all retains a stable contact arc welding. Although this approach creates less splatter, this is finest used on large, completely flat surfaces.

Spray Transfers is identical to Pulsed-spray, except it utilizes elevated electric pulses to enable micro-cooling intervals. The procedure could be employed on a broad range of metal backplate widths and in practically all welder applications due to this sort of distribution.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

Its procedure has been most commonly used to join massive portions of steel material or non-ferrous metal. This is an arc-welding technology that produces welding with constant disposable tungsten electrodes.

The method takes considerably longer than MIG, Sticks, or Flux Cored Arc Welding. Because non-ferrous metals have such a wide range of boiling points, it’s important to be cautious when determining the basic metal’s content. Even though both Stainless Steel and Steel comprise irons, the alloy should have a minimum of 11% Chromite to just be termed Stainless Steel.

Welding with a Flux Cored Arc

This has been created as a substitute for a shielding welder. Because of its fast welder velocity and mobility, the semi-automatic arc welder is frequently used in building works. Because this approach contains so many parameters, it can be used in a wide range of welding tasks.

Given the volume of dust and gases produced during the welder operation, Flux Cored Arc Welder is best performed outside or beneath commercial air funnels.

Metal Arc Welding with a Shield

The welders use a manually sticking soldering procedure to perform this kind of welding. An electrical charge is used to create an arc between both the sticks and the metal to just be connected.

Welders should be competent to fabricate to a degree where their output may survive a catastrophic form of bending check. Shielded metal arc welder is commonly employed to connect carbon metal, alloyed metals, stainless metal, casting irons, and malleable iron, but it could likewise be utilized to connect non-ferrous metals such as nickel and copper. It’s a material that’s seldom used on aluminium.

Also Read: Things to Keep in Mind Before Purchasing Cement Mill

Conclusion

For optimum results, numerous aspects must be considered when selecting a welding process. Best companies have secured their place in the welding electrode business by providing the finest grade goods to ensure the accomplishment of each and every welder operation.

Diffusion Engineers provides Welding Machine Maintenance services, as well as welding items such as consumables and welders.

What is Welding and How Does Welding Work?

Welding is a process where two or more pieces of parent materials are joined with the help of a high temperature and pressure. A filler material is used to fuse the two pieces of metal together. Welding is very different from brazing or soldering.

In welding, the base materials of the metals also burn and melt with the metals to form a stronger bond. This is not the case in soldering or blazing as only the filler material is burnt to join the two metals pieces. It requires you to buy ample supplies from Welding Consumables Suppliers in Indiato give your project the outcome you desired. Let us look deeper into how welding actually works. 

Types of Welding

There are several types of welding processes that are used by professionals today to weld metals, wood, plastic, and other materials. They are commonly divided into two main categories: heat-based welding and pressure-based welding. In heat-based welding, a heated tool is placed near the two pieces, and pressure is applied to join them together. It is also called hot plate welding. In a pressure-based welding process, friction is used to join the two metal pieces under pressure. 

For you to get your desired results, you need to have the training, skills, and expertise in understanding each of these wedding processes. You may also want to get your welding supplies from Welding Consumables Manufacturers to get the best supplies for your projects. The higher the quality of the supplies you buy, the better results you will get.  

How Does Welding Work?

Arc welding is one of the most common welding techniques that use a variety of different approaches to achieve a varied range of outcomes. Butt joints, lap joints, T joints, corner joints, and edge joints are some of the common types of arc welding joints. Each of them performs under a set temperature of heat and has a very specific function. Some weld two edges, overlapping pieces, ends, etc. 

There are two types of materials that professional welders use: parent material and consumable materials. You can get each of these supplies from your trusted Welding Consumables suppliers.  Parent materials are the metal parts that are joined together while consumable materials are the extra set of materials that are used to heat up in the arc. These materials are then deposited all over the surface to help in the joining process. 

Parent Materials Used in Welding 

Welding can be carried out on a number of materials like wood, plastic, metals, etc. Each of these base materials has a specific temperature that is needed to form a weld. 

Metal Parent Materials

Metal parent materials are heated in a metal welding process. Here the metals are combined with other materials to form a weld joint. High temperature is applied to the work area to create molten that is then cooled down to form a weld. 

Wooden Parent Materials 

Wooden parent materials are joined together through welding. Here, pressure is applied on the pieces while creating heat on the surface areas of the parent material. This is one of the fastest welding processes and creates a strong weld. 

Plastic Parent Materials

Plastic parent materials are welded together in three stages for a plastic welding process. The first step is to apply pressure on the pieces to bring them closer, then heat is applied to the work area, and finally is let to cool down while applying consistent pressure on both the pieces. 

Also Read: What Are the Two Categories of Welding Electrodes?

Conclusion

This is the entire process of welding. It is not as simple as it seems as there are several stages and complex steps involved that one should know of to gain the desired outcomes for the wedding project. Also, you need to use the best quality supplies from Diffusion Engineers, one of the trustworthy Welding Consumables Manufacturers in India. Get in touch with them to avail of top quality products. 

Everything You Need to Know About Flux Cored Wire and Its Applications

Flux cored wires are another filler material used to create welds of superior quality. These kinds of wires are characterized by higher deposition rates. Flux cored wires purchased from reputable flux cored wire suppliers have numerous applications in several industries. They are mainly used for general fabrication and in the construction industry, offshore as well as ship building. You can choose either a self-shielded flux-cored wire or gas-shielded wire. These wires are appropriate for all position welding. 

Understanding Flux Cored Wires

These make a perfect choice to be utilized with base materials like mild steel, low-alloy steel, stainless steel, and nickel alloys. These wires consist of metallic external sheath loaded up with flux or metal powder. The composition of the metal powder can be altered to get certain outcomes.

The flux is a compound that contains a combination of alloys and deoxidizers. Deoxidizers assume a significant role in safeguarding the weld against pollutants. It is critical to search for a well-known flux cored wire manufacturer in India that supplies best quality welding items and guarantees stability in the long haul. 

Flux cored wire suppliers have two types of wires that are gas shielded and self-shielded. Gas safeguarded flux cored wires include the utilization of a gas supply to ensure good weld quality. Removing slag is quite simple with this sort of wire. Gas shielded wires have applications in heavy-engineering industries. 

Self-shielded wires are portable as they don’t need an external gas supply. They are highly preferred for open air welding applications. In the event that you are searching for an ideal answer for satisfying your welding needs in ship building and bridge construction industries, flux cored wires are the answer. 

Advantages of Flux-Cored Wires

A few of the assured advantages of the wires sold by notable Flux Cored Wire Suppliers in India are as following: 

  • They work well with base metal contamination and produce a weld resistant from cracks. 
  • A great choice for positional welding 
  • Side wall penetration is possible which is a farfetched possibility in case of solid filler wires
  • Welders using flux cored wires need not have extraordinary skills.

Applications of These Wires

Manufacturers have used trend setting innovation to deliver wires with great mechanical properties to broaden the scope of its applications.

  • They are generally ideal for welding thicker plates with sheet thicknesses from 4 mm and upwards. 
  • They can work with manual welding in all positions. 
  • Amazing approach to welding hard-to-weld steels.
  • Wires are available in various sizes. 
  • Valuable for single or multi-pass welding. 
  • Such wires are ideal for open air welding applications. 
  • Functions well in breezy conditions. 

Also Read: What Are the Different Types of Welding Electrodes?

Conclusion

Before proceeding with the purchase, it is important to comprehend the applications and advantages to decide if the welding products can appropriately satisfy your requirements. A string and smooth weld are the outcome of using the finest quality products. Contact Diffusion Engineers to explore a range of products and be sure of having settled on the correct choice for all your welding needs.

What is Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)?

There are different types of welding processes prevalent in the industry. Among those is GMAW (also called MIG) which is an electric arc welding process. It makes use of a continuously fed wire. During this process, the wire electrode is fed into a weld at a controlled speed. The welder supports the wire feeder and a shielding gas protects the weld from getting contaminated due to atmospheric influence. For a smooth and durable weld, buy from one of the trusted welding electrodes manufacturers and suppliers

Applications of Gas Metal Arc Welding

Gas metal arc welding is useful when you need to join long stretches of metal without stopping. This type of welding can use both inert or active gas as a shielding and runs on direct current power systems. It is compatible with different diameter wire electrodes which you can avail from one of the best welding electrodes suppliers.

GMAW is highly beneficial in welding pipe joints, automotive maintenance, shipbuilding and manufacturing industry, construction industry, railroad tracks and underwater welding. It is best used with non-ferrous metals like aluminum but also works with steel. GMAW facilitates fast maintenance and efficient manufacturing processes and is ideal for commercial fabrication settings.

Advantages of GMAW

  • It is a time efficient process with ability to produce high quality welds. 
  • There is only minimum weld spatter
  • Provides versatility as it works with a wide range of metals and alloys
  • Semi and fully automatic welding options are available
  • This type of welding is resistant to chipping
  • Welding rods from welding electrodes suppliers in India are suitable to be used on very thin materials. 
  • Provides greater strength and integrity to the weld
  • Minimizes electrode wastage
  • Saves a great deal of time as welders don’t have to change electrodes. 

MIG Welding Equipment and Working Explained 

A welding gun, power supply, shielding gas supply and a wire-drive system together constitute a welding equipment. The wire-drive system draws the wire electrode from a spool and presses it through a welding gun.

Follow the instructions provided by welding electrodes manufacturers in Indiaregarding the ideal storage conditions of welding electrodes. MIG welding requires direct current in reverse polarity. This produces a stable arc and aids in smooth transfer of metal. Straight polarity is not recommended as it won’t help achieve desired results. 

Alternating current is not suitable for MIG welding. The welding gun consists of a sliding electrical contact so as to carry the current to the electrode. You will find that the welding electrodes manufacturers have also built a gas passage and a nozzle in the gun that performs the function of guiding the shielding gas around the arc and the molten weld pool.

There is an electrical switch that helps the welder to start and stop the current supply and regulate the flow of shielding gas.

Also Read: How are Gas Metal Arc Welding and Shielded Metal Arc Welding

Conclusion

Diffusion Engineers is one of the leading welding electrodes manufacturers that cater to the welding needs of a wide range of industries. Get in contact with the company to choose from a variety of welding supplies that help you produce strong, durable and high quality welds.  

Steps to Ensure a Smooth Welding Procedure

Welding is not as easy as one would think. If you wish to create a smooth and neat weld, you need to ensure that you are following all the steps correctly. One of the most important factors influencing the welding process is the choice of welding consumables suppliersChoosing a reputed seller alone is not enough. You need to consider numerous factors for impressive results.

Tips to Create a Quality Weld

Here are a few steps that you should take a note of along with choosing top notch welding consumables manufacturers and suppliers.

Skilled Labor

Quality is not a concern if you have purchased consumables from trusted welding consumables suppliers in IndiaBut you can’t expect poorly skilled labor to deliver high quality output. The labor you employ must be highly skilled to handle complex welding processes. TIG, GMAW and GTAW are labour-intensive welding techniques that demand experienced employees who have in-depth understanding and technical knowledge.

Cleanliness

This is vital for achieving superior welds. The welder should be highly particular and attentive to the cleanliness of components. Any traces of dirt, dust or oils can produce shoddy results. Welding consumables manufacturers in Indiaoftenemphasize the importance of keeping consumables contaminant free for long lasting durability. All the efforts would prove futile if the welder fails to adhere to the cleanliness guidelines.

Welding Type

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of different welding methods and choose one that is most suitable for your project. If you want guidance on the consumables to be selected, talking to one of the welding consumables suppliers in India may help. If your project can tolerate some amount of spatter, gas metal arc welding can do the job. Gas Tungsten Arc welding is recommended in cases where you can’t compromise on the quality of weld. GTAW doesn’t produce slag or spatter.

Storage of Consumables

Different consumables require to be stored under specific conditions. Some need to be stored in dry conditions while others may need to be protected from humidity. Seek clarity on the storing instructions from the welding consumables manufacturers as it greatly affects the final output. Cracks and too much of slag are the outcomes of neglecting proper storage. If contaminants get mixed up with the consumables, it is bound to ruin the quality.

Gas Selection

Gas acts as a protective shield for the weld pool. The weld pool must be shielded from contaminants and atmospheric influences. You should know the right gas that will work well with your weld pool. The stability of the arc needs to be maintained and the right gas combination helps achieve that. While purchasing consumables from the welding consumables supplierstry to gain information on the best mixture of gas as well. If you are welding stainless steel by using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, argon and hydrogen combination of gases is recommended.

Also Read: What is the Process of Flux Cored Aarc Welding

Conclusion

Diffusion Engineers is one of the best welding consumables manufacturers and suppliers that supply top-tier welding products for various industries. Achieve high-strength, durable and clean welds and increase your productivity and efficiency.

What Are the Four Consumables of Arc Welding?

When an electric arc is used to join metals using heat, it is referred to as arc welding. It can involve the use of either direct current or alternating current. The power supply creates an electric arc between electrode and the base material. The electrode may be a consumable or non-consumable. The intense heat is what plays a crucial role in joining metals. Welding consumables suppliers in India offer four different types of consumables to aid the arc welding process.

Types of Consumables for Arc Welding

Here we elaborate the four important consumables of arc welding provided by welding consumables suppliers:

Coated Electrodes

Coated electrodes are used in general purpose welding and consist of a core wire. The core wire, as the name suggests, has an outer coating. Welding consumables manufacturers and suppliersproduce core wires that meet the set quality standards. The electrodes have a length that falls somewhere between 350 to 450 mm. The length of the uncoated portion is around 20 to 30 mm. 

Welding Rods and Wires

Short welding wires of one metre are beneficial for plasma arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding. These wires can also be used in coiled form in spool. Long wires are useful for gas metal arc welding and submerged arc welding. Welding consumables manufacturers give a thin copper coating to these welding wires to protect from rust and corrosion. The coating should not exceed the permissible limit and it is recommended that the weight of the copper should be four percent of the weight of the wire.

These welding rods and wires are ideal to be used in processes where carbon dioxide is used as a shielding gas. Wires that are used to weld structural steel contains 0 to 10 percent carbon. Some wires are known to have increased manganese content. The permissible amount of silicon content in welding wire is up to 95 percent. If the silicon content exceeds the permissible limit, it will create poor welds. 

Welding Flux 

Flux is a vital part of SAW welding. When the flux melts, it protects the molten metal from contamination and other impurities. The nitrogen content helps protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination. It aids better fusion of the welding electrode and the parent material owing to its capability to concentrate heat on a small welding zone. Purchase from one of the well-renowned welding consumables manufacturers in Indiato improve the efficiency of welding process with excellent physical properties. 

Shielding Gases

There are two types of shielding gases – inert gases and gases that dissolve and react with the metal. Argon and helium come under the category of inert gases whereas carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen can be listed under the second category. You can use argon, helium and carbon dioxide for gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding and plasma arc welding. One of the welding consumables suppliers can guide you with the right choice of shielding gases. 

Also Read: Understanding Self-Shielded Flux Cored Wire

Conclusion 

Diffusion Engineers is one of the top players in the industry that caters to the needs of various industries by providing high quality welding consumables. Get in touch to choose from a wide range of welding equipment that can help achieve smooth and strong welds. 

The basics of flux cored wires

Flux cored wires are no new invention; welding equipment manufacturers have been producing them for ages! However, understanding them, their applications, their advantages and disadvantages could all be very confusing, particularly if you don’t have the correct information. This article would thus try to acquaint you with the basics of flux cored wires, their characteristics, their pros and cons, etc. in an attempt to make these concepts clear for you. With this knowledge, you can make a more informed decision when you go about choosing flux cored wires for your welding requirements.

What are flux cored wires?

Flux cored wires are high performing welding wires that are known for maximizing productivity through increased rates of deposition. A flux cored wire manufacturer in India produces them in 2 varieties – self-shielded and gas-shielded. The gas shielded variety was introduced by manufacturers to the market in 1957 and the self-shielding one came into existence in 1961. As is evident from their names, the gas-shielded flux cored wires require an external supply of shielding gas in order to protect the weld; the self-shielded wires do not. The performance guarantee and the supreme weld quality of these wires make them extremely popular in the welding industry. 

Use and applications of flux cored wires

Flux cored wires are suitable to use for a wide variety of base materials including mild, low-alloy and stainless steel, as also for nickel alloys. For steel welding, these wires come with a tensile strength of 70 KSI and for the low-alloy steel variant, they may have a tensile strength of 80 KSI to 120 KSI. Flux cored wire suppliers in India may even produce variants that have a tensile strength higher than that!

Flux cored wires are available for all-position welding and also for flat/horizontal welding. Flux cored wires could be used for hard-surfacing the newer parts in order to protect them against abrasion and impact, as well as for rebuilding parts that have worn out. Self-shielded flux cored wires have a wide use case as they are suitable for outdoor welding and can be used by welders who do not have a lot of skill, experience or expertise. The gas-shielded variant is usually used for industrial fabrication and manufacturing and is only used by skilled and experienced welders.

Advantages and disadvantages of flux cored wires

Just like it is with any type of welding wires, flux cored wires too have their own share of pros and cons. The biggest common advantages for both types of flux cored wires include a much higher rate of deposition as compared to solid wires or stick electrodes, a nice seamless weld bead look, and their fantastic ability to weld very thick metals.

Apart from these advantages, thermal spray powder suppliers with experience in dealing with flux cored wires say that these wires also possess very strong mechanical properties. These include strong impact values, durable and high strength welds, and the potential to alloy them in order to match with different base metals. Flux cored wires are more tolerant to dirt and mill scale. They can also weld through such contaminants with lesser requirements of precleaning.

The disadvantage with flux cored wires is that there is a high requirement for post weld cleaning. Both types of flux cored wires produce slag, and this slag must be removed with processes like chipping and wire brushing. In rare cases, these type of wires may be slightly more expensive per pound as compared to solid wires.

Also, Read – A basic introduction to the various types of welding rods

With all things said, flux cored wires have more pros than cons. So buy them from trusted flux cored wire suppliers like Diffusion Engineers, who are renowned for making high quality welding products, and you would reap the benefits of these wires.

Welding equipment maintenance checklist – Part 2

Numerous cement plant machinery manufacturers give importance to safety measures while doing any sort of welding work. In the previous part, you learned about the different headgear and gloves that are worn by the welder. Here, we shall see the other kinds of protective gear that you can wear while doing any level and type of welding.  

Jackets: 

When it comes to welding safety equipment, you can’t go wrong with welding jackets. These jackets are made of durable flame-resistant materials to protect you from any accidents. They should be comfortable as welding can get quite strenuous. 

Cotton jackets are used for light duty welding work and are flame resistant. Welders do use leather jackets for protection from flame and heat. They are durable and flame resistant but the only flaw is that it gets hot underneath the leather and that may distract the welder. Jackets are also made of proprietary flame resistant materials with the lightness of cotton and the durability of leather. Cement plant equipment suppliers think leather works in all kinds of situations. 

Aprons and sleeves:

Apart from the jacket, an apron offers extra protection to your legs and chest. For extra protection, leather sleeves are a great idea if you are only doing light duty welding work.  

Respirators:

Along with heat and radiation, welding also causes an emission of harmful fumes because you are essentially melting metal. Welding consumables manufacturers like Diffusion Engineers strictly recommend respirators for this reason. The use of a respirator can easily keep all those fumes out of your head while not making it hard for you to breath behind the mask or helmet. The respirator also keeps away the metal particles that might have entered the air around you.  

Welding hats: 

Welding hats are used to protect the welder’s ears and hair from any random sparks that could possibly harm the welder. They also give the wearer a little bit of personality. Bandannas and beanies are recommended to keep the sweat out of their eyes as it can get quite hot while welding. Choose a hat that is comfortable and can fit snugly inside your helmet. The thicker fabric in a welding hat can make you hot but it does provide extra cushioning. 

Boots:

Welding safety standards can be maintained by wearing leather work boots when welding. Welding work boots actually have additional shielding on the top to protect you from sparks. Heat resistant spats are something that is used to protect you from sparks and they don’t cost as much as welding boots do.  

Also, Read – Welding equipment maintenance checklist – Part 1

While you are welding wearing these protective gear, it is also important to exercise safety around you. Welding machine maintenance is actually a great safety measure to make sure no accidents happen. Welding maintenance will keep your machine in the perfect condition and functional at all times. Along with that, make sure that the people working around you maintain a safe distance from you so that they don’t get harmed by any sparks or don’t inhale chemical fumes that are created because of the welding. This is important no matter your environment. Hope these articles helped you. Thanks for reading!

Easy solutions for common flux cored arc welding problems – Part 2

In the first part of this series, we looked at methods to deal with porosity, worm tracking, and penetration issues in Flux cored arc welding. The techniques were laid out by Diffusion Engineering Pvt Ltd, who rank among the best welding electrodes suppliers, and flux cored wire suppliers in India. Now, in this part, with the help of their ideas and solutions, we will discuss 2 more critical issues in FCAW and how to deal with them. 

Slag inclusions

Slag inclusions happen when there is no escape for the slag that is created by the molten flux in the core of the wire, as a result of which the slag gets trapped inside the weld. According to flux cored wire manufacturers, you can prevent all 4 causes of slag inclusions by using proper welding techniques. 

First, you need to avoid placing the weld bead incorrectly, particularly while making multiple passes on thicker sections. Also provide for sufficient space to make additional passes in the weld joint, especially on joints that actually require multiple passes.

Next, maintain the travel angle correctly and keep the travel speed steady. Your drag angle should lie in the range of 15° to 45° for flat, horizontal and overhead positions, and between 5° to 15° for the vertical up position. Increase the drag angle a little if you experience slag inclusions. 

Next up, pay attention to the weld heat input. If the heat is too low, then you can experience slag inclusions. Abide by the parameters recommended by the manufacturer for a specific wire diameter. If you still experience slag inclusions, keep increasing the voltage till they cease.

Lastly, before you begin your next weld pass, clean properly between the weld passes. Use a chipping hammer or a wire brush to remove the slag. 

Undercutting and lack of fusion

Undercutting occurs when there is a meltdown of the groove in the base metal, right next to the weld’s toe, without being filled with the weld metal. It weakens the area near the toe and could also lead to cracking. Following the welding parameters, utilising the ideal welding current and voltage, and adjusting to the correct gun angle is vital to prevent undercutting. Your travel speed should allow the weld metal to completely fill up the areas that have melted. Pause on every side of the weld in case you are using a weaving technique. 

Lack of fusion is when the weld and base metals (or the weld metal and the preceding weld bead in applications with multiple passes) do not fuse together completely. In order to prevent it, you need to maintain the appropriate work angle and the ideal level of heat input. For obtaining the perfect angle, you must place the stringer bead at the joint in a location that is ideal for it. Adjust the work angle or widen the groove as required during the welding process for accessing the bottom. Hold the arc on the welding puddle’s trailing edge. The gun angle drag must be in the range of 15° to 45°. Flux cored wire manufacturers in India recommend upping the voltage range and change the wire speed as required for obtaining complete fusion. Increase the travel speed or use a higher welding current if the wire gets ahead of the puddle. Lastly, clean the base metal surface thoroughly before welding to get rid of contaminants.

Also, Read – Easy solutions for common flux cored arc welding problems – Part 1

The techniques discussed here should help you overcome these 2 major challenges in FCAW. This brings us to the conclusion of our 2-part series for solving common FCAW problems, which was only possible due to the inputs provided by Diffusion Engineering. Apart from being one of India’s top flux cored wire manufacturers and suppliers, Diffusion Engineering are also regarded as the best welding consumables manufacturers and suppliers, and wear plates manufacturers in India. You can get in touch with them if you need help with fulfilling your requirements of products and materials used in welding processes, or if you have any queries or doubts about the same.