Tungsten Electrode Welding Performance

Tungsten electrode is widely used in TIG welding, plasma welding and other welding areas. The welding performance will directly affect their work performance and applications range. With the development of science and technology, not only has more stringent requirements on the electrode property, and environmentally friendly electrode material is an important evaluation criteria.

Compare arcing performance, high temperature burning performance and static characteristic curve of different electrodes to understand the performance of different welding electrodes.

Experimental electrodes are cerium tungsten electrodes (Ce-W electrode), zirconium tungsten electrode (Zr-W electrode), tungsten electrodes doped with three rare earth oxides (La-Ce-Y) and E3 electrode (15% La-0.8% Y-0.8 % Zr).

Arcing performance testing: After arcing performance testing found when I = 30A, tungsten electrodes doped with three rare earth oxides have all arcing. It has the minimum arc current, indicating having low work function, high electron emission capability. Ce-W electrode and Zr-W electrode arcing current is 35A and 40A, having medium work function and electron emission capability. But the E3 electrodes at I = 40A has not been successful arcing, and the data distribution is more dispersed, indicating unstable electron emission capability and high work function.

Burning loss experiment: four kinds of tungsten electrode after 20min arcing occur in varying degrees of oxidation. Ce-W electrode appeared slight rim ring, and E3 electrode tip burned significantly. After 30min minute burning treatment, Ce-W electrode and a Zr-W electrode has varying degrees rim. Pluralistic tungsten electrode has stable morphology. But the original shape of the E3 electrode has been completely destroyed.

After comparison can be found, tungsten electrodes doped with three rare earth oxides has better arcing performance, anti-burning performance and high temperature stability performance than E3 electrode, Zr-W electrode and Ce-W electrode, having better overall performance. The Ce-W and Zr-W has medium welding performance, and E3 electrode welding performance is the worst.

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