Mechanism and optimization of oxide fluxes for deep penetration in gas tungsten arc welding

Five single oxide fluxes—Cu₂O, NiO, SiO₂, CaO, and Al₂O₃—were used to investigate the effect of active flux on the depth/width ratio in SUS304 stainless steel. The flux quantity, stability, and particlesize effect on the weld-pool shape and oxygen content in the weld after welding was studied systematically. The results showed that the weld depth/width ratio initially increased, followed by a decrease with the increasing flux quantity of the Cu₂O, NiO, and SiO₂ fluxes. The depth/width ratio is not sensitive to the CaO flux when the quantity is over 80×10⁻⁵ mol on the 5×0.1×50 mm slot. The Al₂O₃ flux has no effect on the penetration. The oxygen content dissolved in the weld plays an important role in altering the liquid-pool surface-tension gradient and the weld penetration. The effective range of oxygen in the weld is between 70 and 300 ppm. A too-high or too-low oxygen content in the weld pool does not increase the depth/width ratio. The decomposition of the flux significantly depends on the flux stability and the particle size. Cu₂O has a narrow effective flux-quantity range for the deep penetration, while the Al₂O₃ flux has no effect. The SiO₂ flux with a small particle size (0.8 or 4 μm) is a highly recommended active flux for deep penetration in actual gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) applications.     

CO2 laser beam welding of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy thin plate

Laser beam welding is an attractive welding process for age-hardened aluminum alloys, because its low heat input minimizes the width of weld fusion and heat-affected zones (HAZs). In the present work, 1-mm-thick age-hardened Al-Mg-Si alloy, 6061-T6, plates were welded with full penetration using a 2.5-kW CO₂ laser. Fractions of porosity in the fusion zones were less than 0.05 pct in bead-on-plate welding and less than 0.2 pct in butt welding with polishing the groove surface before welding. The width of a softened region in the-laser beam welds was less than 1/4 times that of a tungsten inert gas (TIG) weld. The softened region is caused by reversion of strengthening β″ (Mg₂Si) precipitates due to weld heat input. The hardness values of the softened region in the laser beam welds were almost fully recovered to that of the base metal after an artificial aging treatment at 448 K for 28.8 ks without solution annealing, whereas those in the TIG weld were not recovered in a partly reverted region. Both the bead-on-plate weld and the butt weld after the postweld artificial aging treatment had almost equivalent tensile strengths to that of the base plate.     

Effect of Activated Flux on the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Residual Stresses of Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel Weld Joints

A novel variant of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding called activated-TIG (A-TIG) welding, which uses a thin layer of activated flux coating applied on the joint area prior to welding, is known to enhance the depth of penetration during autogenous TIG welding and overcomes the limitation associated with TIG welding of modified 9Cr-1Mo steels. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a specific activated flux for enhancing the depth of penetration during autogeneous TIG welding of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. In the current work, activated flux composition is optimized to achieve 6 mm depth of penetration in single-pass TIG welding at minimum heat input possible. Then square butt weld joints are made for 6-mm-thick and 10-mm-thick plates using the optimized flux. The effect of flux on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and residual stresses of the A-TIG weld joint is studied by comparing it with that of the weld joints made by conventional multipass TIG welding process using matching filler wire. Welded microstructure in the A-TIG weld joint is coarser because of the higher peak temperature in A-TIG welding process compared with that of multipass TIG weld joint made by a conventional TIG welding process. Transverse strength properties of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel weld produced by A-TIG welding exceeded the minimum specified strength values of the base materials. The average toughness values of A-TIG weld joints are lower compared with that of the base metal and multipass weld joints due to the presence of δ-ferrite and inclusions in the weld metal caused by the flux. Compressive residual stresses are observed in the fusion zone of A-TIG weld joint, whereas tensile residual stresses are observed in the multipass TIG weld joint.     

Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS)-Based Models for Predicting the Weld Bead Width and Depth of Penetration from the Infrared Thermal Image of the Weld Pool

Type 316 LN stainless steel is the major structural material used in the construction of nuclear reactors. Activated flux tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding has been developed to increase the depth of penetration because the depth of penetration achievable in single-pass TIG welding is limited. Real-time monitoring and control of weld processes is gaining importance because of the requirement of remoter welding process technologies. Hence, it is essential to develop computational methodologies based on an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) or artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting and controlling the depth of penetration and weld bead width during A-TIG welding of type 316 LN stainless steel. In the current work, A-TIG welding experiments have been carried out on 6-mm-thick plates of 316 LN stainless steel by varying the welding current. During welding, infrared (IR) thermal images of the weld pool have been acquired in real time, and the features have been extracted from the IR thermal images of the weld pool. The welding current values, along with the extracted features such as length, width of the hot spot, thermal area determined from the Gaussian fit, and thermal bead width computed from the first derivative curve were used as inputs, whereas the measured depth of penetration and weld bead width were used as output of the respective models. Accurate ANFIS models have been developed for predicting the depth of penetration and the weld bead width during TIG welding of 6-mm-thick 316 LN stainless steel plates. A good correlation between the measured and predicted values of weld bead width and depth of penetration were observed in the developed models. The performance of the ANFIS models are compared with that of the ANN models.     

Influence of Activating Flux and Helium Shielding Gas on an Austenitic Stainless Steel Weldment

Activating flux-assisted gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is a well-established method for enhancing weld penetration. In GTAW, steel is usually welded with a shielding gas that contains mostly argon. However, pure argon does not provide enough weld penetration. Argon-helium mixtures are inert and a greater concentration of helium would increase the arc voltage and the weld depth-to-width (D/W) ratio. There is a significant level of interest in the interaction between activating flux and shielding gas composition. Weld morphology, arc profile, retained δ ferrite content, angular distortion, and microstructure are extremely important in applying the activating flux combination argon-helium in GTAW; therefore, in this work, all these were studied.     

Effect of Oxide Fluxes on Depth of Penetration in Flux Bounded Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of AISI 304L Stainless Steel

Flux Bounded Tungsten Inert Gas (FBTIG) welding is a modified TIG welding process in which increased depth of penetration (DoP) can be achieved by laying thin flux coatings on either side of the weld centerline. The effect of three single component fluxes viz., SiO₂, TiO₂ and Cr₂O₃ on bead geometry of autogenous melt runs in AISI 304L stainless steel for the gap between the flux layers varying from 2 to 7 mm, is studied. Results show that DoP can be improved significantly in FBTIG process using single component fluxes. Nature of the flux and the gap between the flux layers influence the weld bead geometry. Among the three fluxes used, SiO₂ is more efficient in improving the DoP. Arc constriction is the predominant mechanism operative in improving the DoP in FBTIG welding. Possibility of change in solidification mode in FBTIG weld metals of stainless steels is highlighted.     

Intelligent Modeling Combining Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System and Genetic Algorithm for Optimizing Welding Process Parameters

Modified 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel is used as a structural material for steam generator components of power plants. Generally, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is preferred for welding of these steels in which the depth of penetration achievable during autogenous welding is limited. Therefore, activated flux TIG (A-TIG) welding, a novel welding technique, has been developed in-house to increase the depth of penetration. In modified 9Cr-1Mo steel joints produced by the A-TIG welding process, weld bead width, depth of penetration, and heat-affected zone (HAZ) width play an important role in determining the mechanical properties as well as the performance of the weld joints during service. To obtain the desired weld bead geometry and HAZ width, it becomes important to set the welding process parameters. In this work, adaptative neuro fuzzy inference system is used to develop independent models correlating the welding process parameters like current, voltage, and torch speed with weld bead shape parameters like depth of penetration, bead width, and HAZ width. Then a genetic algorithm is employed to determine the optimum A-TIG welding process parameters to obtain the desired weld bead shape parameters and HAZ width.     

Argon-Hydrogen Shielding Gas Mixtures for Activating Flux-Assisted Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

Using activating flux for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) to improve penetration capability is a well-established technique. Argon is an inert gas and the one most widely used as a shielding gas for GTAW. For the most austenitic stainless steels, pure argon does not provide adequate weld penetration. Argon–hydrogen mixtures give a more even heat input to the workpiece, increasing the arc voltage, which tends to increase the volume of molten material in the weld pool as well as the weld depth-to-width ratio. Great interest has been shown in the interaction between activating flux and the hydrogen concentration in an argon-based shielding gas. In this study, the weld morphology, the arc profile, the retained delta ferrite content, the angular distortion, and the microstructures were examined. The application of an activating flux combining argon and hydrogen for GTAW is important in the industry. The results of this study are presented here.     

Intelligent Modeling Using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for Predicting Weld Bead Shape Parameters During A-TIG Welding of Reduced Activation Ferritic-Martensitic (RAFM) Steel

Reduced-activated ferritic-martensitic steels are considered to be the prime candidate for structural material of the fusion power plant reactor design. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is preferred for welding of those structural materials. However, the depth of penetration achievable during autogenous TIG welding is very limited and hence productivity is poor. Therefore, activated-flux tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding, a new variant of TIG welding process has been developed in-house to increase the depth of penetration in single pass welding. In structural materials produced by A-TIG welding process, weld bead width, depth of penetration and HAZ width decide the mechanical properties and in turn the performance of the weld joints during service. To obtain the desired weld bead geometry, HAZ width and make a reliable quality weld, it becomes important to develop predictive tools using soft computing techniques. In this work, adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system is used to develop independent models correlating the welding parameters like current, voltage and torch speed with bead shape parameters like weld bead width, depth of penetration, and HAZ width. During ANFIS modeling, various membership functions were used. Triangular membership function provided the minimum RMS error for prediction and hence, ANFIS model with triangular membership functions were chosen for predicting for weld bead shape parameters as a function of welding process parameters.     

Quality of weld seams produced with flux based on silicomanganese slag

The use of metallurgical wastes in welding fluxes is considered. A new welding flux based on slag from silicomanganese production is proposed, along with the corresponding manufacturing technology. The quality of the weld seams is studied by metallographic analysis. The grain size and content of nonmetallic inclusions are determined. An Olympus GX-51 optical microscope is used for metallographic analysis (magnification ×100–1000). The influence of the fractional composition on the performance of the fluxes is studied. The optimal fraction is chosen, ensuring low content of nonmetallic inclusions (in particular, nondeforming silicates and oxides) in the weld seam. If 30–40% of the small fraction of welding flux is employed, the content of nonmetallic oxide inclusions in the weld seam is reduced. Metallographic analysis shows that introducing the small fraction has no effect on the structural components of the weld seam. The seam is characterized by ferrite–pearlite structure. The ferrite is present in the form of grains extended in the direction of heat transfer. The optimal content of the <0.45 mm fraction in the welding flux is 30–40%. To improve flux performance, the small fraction may be mixed with liquid glass. The use of ceramic flux produced from the dust of silicomanganese slag (<0.45 mm fraction) bound by liquid glass reduces the content of nonmetallic inclusions in the weld seam. However, increase in the content of liquid glass from 15 to 40% has little effect on the content of nonmetallic oxide inclusions in the weld seam or on the microstructure. The microstructure in the weld seam consists of pearlite and ferrite. The optimal flux consists of the small fraction with 15–20% liquid glass.     

Process Parameter Optimization of AISI 316L(N) Weld Joints Produced using Flux-Cored Arc Welding Process

Bead on plate welds were carried out on AISI 316L(N) austenitic stainless steel using flux cored arc welding process. The bead on plates weld was conducted as per L₂₅ orthogonal array with statistical design of experiment technique. In this paper, the welding parameters will be optimized based on the weld bead geometry such as depth of penetration, bead width and weld reinforcement. Grey relational analysis and desirability approach are used to optimize the input parameters like wire feed rate, voltage, travel speed and torch angle while considering the multiple output variables simultaneously. Confirmation experiment has also been conducted to validate the optimized parameters.     

Effect of Mechanical Arc Oscillation on the Grain Structure of Mild Steel Weld Metal

The effect of mechanical arc oscillation on the weld metal grain structure in mild steel gas tungsten arc welds has been studied. For welds made without arc oscillation, columnar grains were observed in the weld metal; however, for the same welding parameters, the weld made with arc oscillation had smaller sized relatively equiaxed grains in the weld metal. The strengths for weld made with arc oscillation was higher than that for weld made without arc oscillation, with appreciable increase in ductility; this could be attributed to the reduction in grain size diameter due to arc oscillation. Lower weld metal hardness and increase in heat affected zone hardness was observed in weld made with arc oscillation; this could be attributed to increase in pro-eutectoid ferrite formation with absence of Widmanstatten ferrite structures in the weld metal and less coarsening of grains in the heat affected zone due to increased cooling rate.     

Investigation of Hot Cracking Behavior in Transverse Mechanically Arc Oscillated Autogenous AA2014 T6 TIG Welds

Hot cracking studies on autogenous AA2014 T6 TIG welds were carried out. Significant cracking was observed during linear and circular welding test (CWT) on 4-mm-thick plates. Weld metal grain structure and amount of liquid distribution during the terminal stages of solidification were the key cause for hot cracking in aluminum welds. Square-wave AC TIG welding with transverse mechanical arc oscillation (TMAO) was employed to study the cracking behavior during linear and CWT. TMAO welds with amplitude?=?0.9?mm and frequency?=?0.5?Hz showed significant reduction in cracking tendency. The increase in cracking resistance in the arc-oscillated weld was attributed to grain refinement and improved weld bead morphology, which improved the weld metal ductility and uniformity, respectively, of residual tensile stresses that developed during welding. The obtained results were comparable to those of reported favorable results of electromagnetic arc oscillation.     

An Improved Theoretical Model for A-TIG Welding Based on Surface Phase Transition and Reversed Marangoni Flow

It is experimentally shown that a thin layer of silica flux leads to an increased depth of weld penetration during activated TIG (=A-TIG) welding of Armco iron. The oxygen-content is found higher in the solidified weld metal and it is linked to the increased depth of penetration through the reversed Marangoni convection. It is theoretically shown for the first time that the basic reason of the reversed Marangoni convection is the phenomenon called ??surface phase transition?? (SPT), leading to the formation of a nano-thin FeO layer on the surface of liquid iron. It is shown that the ratio of dissolved oxygen in liquid iron to the O-content of the silica flux is determined by the wettability of silica particles by liquid iron. It is theoretically shown that when the silica flux surface density is higher than 15 µg/mm², reversed Marangoni flow will take place along more than 50 pct of the melted surface. Comparing the SPT line with the dissociation curves of a number of oxides, they can be positioned in the following order of their ability to serve as a flux for A-TIG welding of steel: anatase-TiO₂ (best)-rutile-TiO₂ (very good)-silica-SiO₂ (good)-alumina-Al₂O₃ (does not work). Anatase (and partly rutile) are self-regulating fluxes, as they provide at any temperature just as much dissolved oxygen as needed for the reversed Marangoni convection, and not more. On the other hand, oxygen can be over-dosed if silica, and other, less stable oxides (such as iron oxides) are used.     

A unified numerical modeling of stationary tungsten-inert-gas welding process

In order to clarify the formative mechanism of weld penetration in an arc welding process, the development of a numerical model of the process is quite useful for understanding quantitative values of the balances of mass, energy, and force in the welding phenomena because there is still lack of experimentally understanding of the quantitative values of them because of the existence of complicated interactive phenomena between the arc plasma and the weld pool. The present article is focused on a stationary tungsten-inert-gas (TIG) welding process for simplification, but the whole region of TIG arc welding, namely, tungsten cathode, arc plasma, workpiece, and weld pool is treated in a unified numerical model, taking into account the close interaction between the arc plasma and the weld pool. Calculations in a steady state are made for stationary TIG welding in an argon atmosphere at a current of 150 A. The anode is assumed to be a stainless steel, SUS304, with its negative temperature coefficient of surface tension. The two-dimensional distributions of temperature and velocity in the whole region of TIG welding process are predicted. The weld-penetration geometry is also predicted. Furthermore, quantitative values of the energy balance for the various plasma and electrode regions are given. The predicted temperatures of the arc plasma and the tungsten-cathode surface are in good agreement with the experiments. There is also approximate agreement of the weld shape with experiment, although there is a difference between the calculated and experimental volumes of the weld. The calculated convective flow in the weld pool is mainly dominated by the drag force of the cathode jet and the Marangoni force as compared with the other two driving forces, namely, the buoyancy force and the electromagnetic force.     

On the calculation of the free surface temperature of gas-tungsten-arc weld pools from first principles: Part I. modeling the welding arc

A mathematical formulation has been developed and computed results are presented describing the temperature profiles in gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) arcs and, hence, the net heat flux from the welding arc to the weld pool. The formulation consists of the statement of Maxwell's equations, coupled to the Navier-Stokes equations and the differential thermal energy balance equation. The theoretical predictions for the heat flux to the workpiece are in good agreement with experimental measurements — for long arcs. The results of this work provide a fundamental basis for predicting the behavior of arc welding systems from first principles.     

Grain Refinement of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Weldments by AC Pulsing Technique

The current study has investigated the influence of alternating current pulsing on the structure and mechanical properties of AZ31 magnesium alloy gas tungsten arc (GTA) weldments. Autogenous full penetration bead-on-plate GTA welds were made under a variety of conditions including variable polarity (VP), variable polarity mixed (VPM), alternating current (AC), and alternating current pulsing (ACPC). AC pulsing resulted in significant refinement of weld metal when compared with the unpulsed conditions. AC pulsing leads to relatively finer and more equiaxed grain structure in GTA welds. In contrast, VP, VPM, and AC welding resulted in predominantly columnar grain structures. The reason for this grain refinement may be attributed to the periodic variations in temperature gradient and solidification rate associated with pulsing as well as weld pool oscillation observed in the ACPC welds. The observed grain refinement was shown to result in an appreciable increase in fusion zone hardness, tensile strength, and ductility.     

Quality of the Seam in Welding under Flux by Means of Barium–Strontium Carbonatite

The use of barium–strontium carbonatite in the modification and refining of ferrocarbon alloys is considered. Its use in welding fluxes is proposed. That possibility is analyzed for the example of BSK-2 barium–strontium modifier (Technical Specifications TU 1717-001-75073896–2005) produced by OOO NPK Metalltekhnoprom, with the following composition: 13.0–19.0% BaO, 3.5–7.5% SrO, 17.5–25.5% CaO, 19.8–29.8% SiO₂, 0.7–1.1% MgO, 2.5–3.5% K₂O, 1.0–2.0% Na₂O, 1.5–6.5% Fe₂O₃, 0–0.4% MnO, 1.9–3.9% Al₂O₃, 0.7–1.1% TiO₂, and 16.0–20.0% CO₂. A production technology is proposed for a flux additive containing 70% barium–strontium carbonatite and 30% liquid glass. Several welding-flux compositions based on slag from silicomanganese production are tested. The flux additive is introduced in quantities of 1, 3, and 5%. The specifics of welding under the proposed welding fluxes are determined. The chemical composition of the fluxes, the slag crusts, and the metal in the weld seam are determined by X-ray spectral analysis. The weld seams are studied metallographically. It is possible in principle to use barium–strontium carbonatite as a refining additive to welding fluxes; it also provides a protective atmosphere for the welded metal. By introducing barium–strontium carbonatite, the content of nonmetallic inclusions (nondeforming silicates, point oxides, and brittle silicates) in the weld seam may be reduced, and the desulfurizing properties of the welding fluxes may be enhanced. The introduction of up to 5% barium–strontium carbonatite in welding fluxes based on silicomanganese slag ensures that the metal in the weld seam has ferrite–pearlite structure of Widmanstatten type. The grain size is slightly reduced here: from a score of 4 to 4–5.     

Effect of controlled arc motion on the surface of a weldpool on the quality of a weld during argon-arc welding of a 1565chM aluminum alloy

The effect of the rotation of an arc on the weld formation in welding 1565chM alloy sheets is studied. The arc rotation is shown to induce controlled low-frequency perturbations, which depend on the tungsten electrode rotation frequency, in a weldpool. Periodic changes in the value and direction of temperature gradient favor misorientation and refining of the weld structure. The arc rotation in welding intensifies the release of gas bubbles and oxide inclusions from a weld.