The Influence Of Flux On Element Transfer During Submerged-Arc Welding

TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 66/1978

By M L E Davis and N Bailey

Background

Data from high and low dilution welds have been examined to investigate the influence of flux composition on element transfer during-submerged-arc welding.

The behaviour of some elements - oxygen, carbon, and aluminium - depends on the flux type, using the classification adopted earlier. With other elements - Si, Mn, and S - the detailed composition of the flux also needs to be considered. The transfer of phosphorus appears to depend principally on the composition of the batch of flux employed. Nitrogen transfer does not appear to depend on flux type; weld N contents averaged 0.001% more than predicted from wire plate and dilution.

Although useful as rough guides, generalised parameters, such as DIN 8557 and basicity indices, cannot be used to predict weld compositions accurately.