Analysis of dynamic plasma behaviours in gas metal arc welding by imaging spectroscopy

For gas metal arc welding, the effect of CO₂ mixture in a shielding gas on a metal transfer process was investigated through the observation of the plasma characteristics and dynamic behaviour at the droplet’s growth-separation-transfer by the temperature measurement methods which were suitable, respectively, to the argon plasma region and the metal plasma region. At the present experimental conditions, the metal transfer process was a spray transfer type with 100%Ar shielding gas. On the other hand, with 85%Ar + 15%CO₂ shielding gas, the metal transfer process was a globular transfer type in which the arc length was shorter, the width was narrower and the time interval of the droplet separation was longer. For both shielding gases, the metal plasma region near the arc central axis exhibited 6500–7500 K, which was lower than the argon plasma region. With 85%Ar + 15%CO₂ shielding gas, when the metal droplet grew below the electrode wire, the region below the droplet has a high plasma temperature and a high concentration of iron vapour which surrounded the droplet. The region also exhibited a remarkably high electron number density. At the spray transfer process, the argon plasma region had an electron number density twice as high as the metal plasma region. Meanwhile, at the globular transfer process, the metal plasma region had a higher electron number density than the argon plasma region, which corresponded to a higher electrical conductivity near the arc axis. This means that the electric current goes through the arc axis easier than the spray transfer process. This condition increases the temperature below the droplet. The thermal expansion increases the force preventing the droplet from falling down. In consequence, the metal transfer takes the globular transfer type.     

Metal transfer instability in gas metal arc welding

Abstract

This work presents a simplified model of metal transfer in gas metal arc welding. The model incorporates key features of metal transfer including the change in droplet diameters as welding moves from the globular into the spray metal transfer region, and the increase in welding voltage that is observed to occur as the pendant droplet grows. The model predicts that an instability arises in the globular metal transfer region, which leads to deterministic chaos and complex limit cycles with many droplet sizes. The instability also causes deterministic chaos with a characteristic gap in droplet diameters at the transition to spray mode metal transfer. The model explains observed features of metal transfer in some detail, including the existence and location of preferred bands of droplet sizes. Whether the instability is present or not defines the boundary between chaotic globular metal transfer and the stable drop spray transfer mode. The identification of deterministic chaos in gas metal arc welding metal transfer opens the way for new approaches to welding control.     

Stability of droplets in gas metal arc welding

Abstract

A method is developed to compute the stability of droplets detaching from the consumable electrode in gas metal arc welding. An aluminium electrode is used as the model system. Theoretical predictions and supporting experiments are used to ascertain the rate of transfer of droplets for a range of current encompassing globular and spray transfer, and to examine the transition between these distinct modes of metal transfer. The method uses dimensional analysis to correlate the mass, rate of transfer, and force acting to detach droplets. The correlation is found to undergo a notable change in slope at the transition between globular and spray transfer. The accuracy of the correlation is assessed by comparing the theoretical and measured rate of transfer of droplets in gas metal arc welding using aluminium electrodes of variable diameter.     

保护气体对金红石型药芯焊丝电弧行为影响分析

采用高速摄像装置及汉诺威弧焊分析仪分析了金红石型药芯焊丝在100% CO₂及80% Ar+20% CO₂气体保护焊时的熔滴过渡模式及电弧形态.结果表明,100% CO₂气体保护焊时小、中、大参数均出现排斥过渡特征,随电弧电压与焊接电流增加,熔滴尺寸减小,过渡频率增加,出现滴状过渡,波形呈锯齿状;80% Ar+20% CO₂气体保护焊时以滴状过渡为主,大参数时出现射滴过渡,波形近似直线.前者渣柱仅出现于熔滴形成长大的初期,后者在熔滴过渡全过程均有渣柱存在,且对熔滴过渡有一定的导向与稳定作用.这与电弧形态不同,熔滴与渣柱受电弧热作用的效果不同有关.     

Microstructural analysis of the anode in gas metal arc welding (GMAW)

The nature of the applied shielding gas has a strong influence on arc stability and transfer metal mode of the welding process. In particular, increase of the percentage of carbon dioxide in argon induces the increase of the transition current value from the globular to spray metal transfer mode. This work shows that these effects are linked to the chemical and microstructural modifications of the anode tip during the gas metal arc welding process. The microstructure of the anode is investigated for various experimental conditions. Transition between the two transfer modes is linked to the existence and disappearance of a rather insulating oxide “gangue” at the wire extremity whose nature depends of the shielding gas. Chemical reactions at high temperature such as oxidation–reduction reactions between shielding gas and melted metal govern the transition of the spray-arc to globular transfer mode.     

Effect of REM addition of wire on CO2 gas shielded arc phenomenon

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas shielded arc welding is the main arc welding method, but it generates a large amount of spatter during welding. The root cause of spatter lies in the fact that the droplet undergoes repeated irregular shaking. To solve this problem, spatter generation modes were clarified and the effects of polarity and rare earth metal (REM) addition of the wire on CO₂ gas shielded arc welding were investigated. As a result, when welding is performed with an electrode negative (DCEN) polarity using REM added wire, it was found that a conical arc plasma is formed, and the droplet which is transferred from the wire tip to the molten pool is fine and continuous, in what is termed ‘spray transfer’. Thus, spatter generation was reduced to 10% of amount of the conventional CO₂ gas shielded arc welding (from 0.058 to 0.005g/s).     

Determining the boundaries of globular-to-spray transfer in robotic GMAW

Robotic gas metal arc welding （GMAW） experiments were conducted using an ERTOS-1 electrode with Ar ＋ 10% CO2 shielding gas, and the welding current and arc voltage signals were collected by a data acquisition system. The boundaries between globular transfer and spray transfer in terms of the welding current and arc voltage were determined according to the waveform of electric signals and the Fourier transform results of arc voltage. The optimum welding parameters for the two transfer modes were obtained, which laid a foundation for the numerical simulation and control of GMAW process.     

保护气体成分对双丝旁路耦合电弧GMAW旁路熔滴过渡形式的影响

双丝旁路耦合电弧GMAW的旁路焊枪选择了正极性接法即焊丝接电源负极,旁路熔滴仅依靠重力向熔池过渡,旁路熔滴尺寸较大且过渡过程并不稳定.针对这一问题,采用已建立的双丝旁路耦合电弧焊接过程信号控制与高速摄像采集系统,采集了纯氩气保护时旁路熔滴过渡形式,并分析了旁路熔滴尺寸较大且过渡过程不稳定的原因.在此基础上,采用80% Ar+20% CO₂为保护气体进行了焊接试验.结果表明,焊接过程中,保护气体中的O元素在旁路熔滴表面形成了氧化膜,旁路电弧在旁路熔滴表面的氧化膜上稳定燃烧,从而使电磁收缩力重新作用在旁路熔滴上并促进旁路熔滴向熔池过渡,因此焊接过程中旁路熔滴尺寸明显减小,熔滴过渡过程更加稳定.     

Droplet transition for plasma-MIG welding on aluminium alloys

The synchronous acquisition system of droplet image inspection and arc electric signals were established and the droplet transition characteristics of aluminum alloys were researched in the plasma-MIG welding process.Typical droplet transition modes include globular transfer mode,short circuiting transfer mode,metastable spray transfer mode and projected transfer mode.The result indicates that MIG droplet transfer frequency and droplet transfer modes are changed by introducing the plasma arc in the plasma-MIG welding process compared with the MIG welding on the aluminum alloys,which broadens the range of welding parameters when the stable welding process proceeds.The metastable spray transfer and projected transfer mode are proved to be the most optimal modes by comparing the stability of electronic signal,droplet transition,weld appearance and weld penetration.     

Metal transfer and arc behaviour of novel consumable and non-consumable electrode indirect arc droplet welding

Abstract

The consumable and non-consumable electrode indirect arc droplet welding is a novel method that applies an indirect arc generated between a consumable electrode and a non-consumable electrode to welding. It was successfully used to overlap join the thin zinc coated steel plate. In the point to point (consumable electrode and non-consumable electrode) configuration, the stable metal transfer was obtained. The globular, projected spray and streaming spray transfer modes were promoted. With the increase in welding power, the metal transfer became faster and more stable. At the same time, the indirect arc became brighter, smaller and more stable. The arc self-regulation guaranteed the stable burning of the indirect arc. The desire stability was observed from the fluctuation of the welding current and the arc voltage waveforms. The side concentrated melting on the root of the droplet produced high pinch effect, which facilitated the detachment of the droplet.     

Wire melting phenomena in gas metal arc welding

Abstract

The wire melting rate in gas metal arc welding using constant voltage power supplies is well described by a parabolic model that considers the effects of electrical resistance and arc heating. However, tests performed with constant current power supplies indicate that the melting rate can deviate from this model when welding current is close to the globular–spray transition value. Although the causes of this anomaly have not yet been well established, most authors consider them to be related to variations in liquid metal temperature close to the metal transfer mode transition current. The present work evaluates the effect of welding parameters on the wire melting rate when a constant current power supply is used. A numerical model that considers the contribution of both Joule and arc heating was developed to calculate the temperature distribution in the wire and its melting rate. The model was used to assess the changes in either arc heating or metal vaporisation that might explain the melting irregularities. High speed cinematography was used to analyse metal transfer in the current range associated with the melting irregularities.     

环保焊枪吸烟对小电流CO2气体保护电弧焊的影响

采用环保焊枪进行了小电流二氧化碳气体保护电弧焊平焊位置焊接,通过分析焊接过程中电弧形貌、电流电压和熔滴过渡方式变化以及焊缝成形、焊缝金属拉伸力学性能和X射线探伤结果,评估了吸烟功率变化时的吸烟效果以及吸烟行为对于焊接过程和焊缝质量的影响规律. 结果表明,使用环保焊枪可以显著降低小电流二氧化碳气体保护电弧焊时飘散在周围空间中的焊接烟尘. 吸烟过程虽然使得短路过渡熔滴频率略有增加,悬挂熔滴和电弧的稳定性略为变差,但对焊缝成形和焊接缺陷都无影响,焊缝金属屈服强度略有减小,抗拉强度略有增加.     

Mapping transfer modes for stainless steel gas metal arc welding

Abstract

A methodology for the construction of transfer mode maps for stainless steel gas metal arc welding, with argon and argon–oxygen shielding gases, is presented. A back lighting laser and high speed video camera were used for visualisation and measurement of droplets and electrode extension. The reasons for the use of a groove, instead of the traditional bead on plate method, and of same volume beads are discussed and the results assessed. Unlike in other mapping procedures, mapping was conducted as a function of welding current and arc length. In addition, transfer rate v. welding current or wire feedrate curves were plotted. The results show the importance of the use of both maps and curves for identification and quantification of the shielding gas effects on the transfer mode. The results also suggest that an increase in oxygen content in the shielding gas reduces the values of transition current and transition wire feedrate (as expected), but also that it reduces the transfer rate and droplet size at the globular–spray transition.     

Hybrid laser-arc welding of advanced high-strength steel

This study investigated the synergetic effect between laser beam and electrical arc during hybrid welding by using a spectral diagnostic technique. The synergetic effect increased the energy density in the keyhole and deepened the weld penetration, resulting in a lower plasma electron temperature. The metal transfer mode was a globular one at a small offset distance while a spray mode was achieved with an increase in the offset distance. The decrease in the arc voltage and arc current due to the synergetic effect caused this transition from spray to globular modes. Globular transfer mode destabilized the molten pool and keyhole with the large droplet impingement, leading to the formation of porosity in the corresponding weld bead. The presence of porosity was on-line detected by identifying serious fluctuations in the Fe I electron temperature signals based on the fact that the instability of the molten pool and keyhole is strongly related to the signals coming from the plasma.     

Arc characteristics and behaviour of metal transfer in pulsed current GMA welding of stainless steel

The variation in arc characteristics, stability in shielding of arc environment and behaviour of metal transfer with a change in pulse parameters have been studied by high speed video-photography during pulsed current gas metal arc (P-GMA) weld deposition using austenitic stainless steel filler wire. A comparative study of similar nature has also been carried out during gas metal arc (GMA) weld deposition in globular and spray transfer modes. The effect of pulse parameters has been studied by considering their hypothetically proposed summarized influence defined by a dimensionless factor ? = [(I_b/I_p) ft_b], mean current and arc voltage and correlation between welding parameters and arc characteristics have been established. The arc characteristics studied by its root diameter, projected diameter, length and stiffness measured in terms of arc pressure and the behaviour of metal transfer noted by the droplet diameter and velocity of droplet at the time of detachment have been found to vary significantly with the variation in ?. At a given ? the experimentally measured values of the behaviour of metal transfer are found well in agreement to their corresponding theoretical values estimated through mathematical expressions reported earlier. The increase of ? and the ratio of (I_b/I_p) have been found to adversely affect the stability of shielding jacket and arc profile especially at high arc voltage.     

Analysis of arc voltage,current, and light signals in pulsed gas metal arc welding of aluminium

Abstract

The use of readily acquired weld arc data such as voltage, current, or light emissions to identify droplet transfer events or transfer mode, or for quality purposes such as seam tracking is of interest for thin section applications in arc welding of aluminium. In the present study, voltage, current, and light emission signals are acquired at high rates, and synchronised with high speed shadowgraphing. The usefulness of the various signals for identifying droplet detachment events and transfer modes during pulsed gas metal arc welding of aluminium is compared. It is found that individual droplet detachments are consistently identifiable during globular, spray, and streaming transfer, and during peak and background current detachment, using the voltage signal. Although the arc light signal also contains droplet detachment data, it is difficult to identify droplet detachments occurring during the background phase at low background current levels. Preliminary measurements show that these signals can also be used for seam location in thin section lap fillet welding.     

高铬镍奥氏体焊丝Ar/He/CO2保护脉冲GMAW电弧形态与熔滴过渡

为解决高强度Cr-Ni奥氏体焊丝脉冲GMAW电弧挺度不足,熔滴过渡不稳定的问题,文中采用高速摄像手段对Ar/He/CO₂不同组合气体保护下的脉冲GMAW电弧形态与熔滴过渡进行了对比研究,以期优化混合气体成分.结果表明,氩气弧熔滴过渡容易,但电弧漂移、挺度差;氦气和CO₂气体的加入可提高电弧挺度、增大电弧能量、熔滴过渡变为1脉多滴,先一个大滴,接着几个小滴;氦气的比例越大,第一个熔滴的尺寸越大;CO₂气体可克服阴极斑点漂移,但比例不能超过5%;40% Ar+58% He+2% CO₂三元组合的电弧挺度大,熔滴过渡均匀平稳,是奥氏体焊丝脉冲GMAW厚板焊接较理想的混合气体组分.     

焊条典型熔滴过渡形态的判读

粗熔滴短路过渡,渣壁过渡,爆炸过渡和喷射过渡是焊条的基本过渡形态.过去一直采用光电示波器记录的电弧电压、焊接电流波形图,定性地描述熔滴过渡的一般特征,不可能进行精确的定量分析.通过对汉诺威弧焊质量分析仪获取的焊条四种典型熔滴过渡形态的电弧电压、焊接电流概率密度分布图的特征和短路时间t1、燃弧时间t2、加权燃弧时间t3和过渡周期tC的数据进行统计分析,可精确地描述焊条熔滴过渡形态的电弧物理特征,并能够判别焊条熔滴过渡形态.为焊条熔滴过渡形态的判定提供了一种新方法.     

面向工程应用的BA-GMAW熔滴过渡形态

综述了涉及工程应用的潜弧熔化极气体保护焊(Buried arc gas metal arc welding,BA-GMAW)熔滴过渡形态特征。结果表明,在大电流和相应的焊接参数下,BA-GMAW工艺的熔滴过渡形态有3种,即呈滴状过渡、摆动过渡和旋转过渡。BA-GMAW电弧空腔中电弧形态属于连续、敞开、非活动型;电弧空腔内氛围发生了质的变化,电弧爬升到熔滴上方,满足了喷射过渡形成3要素。焊接工艺参数对BA-GMAW熔滴过渡形态的影响,主要是焊接电流和电弧电压的影响;前者主要改变熔滴上作用力方向和大小,后者涉及潜弧的稳定性。潜弧焊熔滴过渡形态与工艺质量的利好关系,是受稳弧技术控制的熔滴过渡特性改善所决定的。创新点：通过典型工程应用试验案例中的焊接工艺参数,分析、判断相应的电弧和熔滴过渡形态,完成从实践到理论的转换,为后续论点论述打下坚实基础。     

AZ31B镁合金直流脉冲MIG焊接特性(英文)

采用直流脉冲MIG(DC-PMIG)焊接工艺及直径为1.6mm的镁合金焊丝,获得连续的3mm和8mm厚度的AZ31B镁合金焊接接头。研究镁合金DC-PMIG焊的熔滴过渡行为及机制、稳定焊接过程的参数范围、组织及力学性能。结果表明:镁合金DC-PMIG焊能够实现的熔滴过渡方式有3种,分别为大滴过渡、射滴过渡、射流过渡。大滴过渡会产生尺寸较大的焊接飞溅;当采用射滴过渡和射流过渡,且焊丝线能量为242~271J/cm、熔滴尺寸为1.6~0.9mm、熔滴过渡频率为30~69Hz时,能够获得焊接飞溅很少的高质量接头。焊接接头的最高极限抗拉强度为母材的94.6%。