A-TIG Welding of a Stainless Steel

Abstract:

The aim of this research is the development of activating fluxes to improve weld bead geometry and increase weld penetration depth in austenitic stainless steels. The effect on bead geometry of two home-made fluxes, composed of titanium and aluminium oxides, was studied, in combination with two shielding gases, respectively Argon and an Argon/Helium mixture. A significant increase in penetration was obtained in welds done with the Ti based activating flux across the whole range of welding currents for both shielding gases, which was not the case for welds performed with the Al based flux. A decrease in δ-ferrite content in the weld metal with increasing current was observed only in welds done with the Ti based flux.