Lesson 2 - Common Electric Arc Welding Processes Page 1 of 1

Current
Lesson 1 Chapter
The Basics of Arc LESSON II
Table of
Welding Contents
profile (See Figure 16), penetration, and speed of welding. In our discussion, we will deal with
the more common choices used for the various transfer processes.
Lesson 2
Common Electric FERROUS METALS NON-FERROUS METALS
Arc Welding
Processes

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Lesson 3
Covered Electrodes CO2 ARGON + CO2 ARGON + O2 ARGON HELIUM
for Welding Print
Mild Steels BEAD PROFILE

FIGURE 16

Lesson 4 Glossary
Covered Electrodes 2.4.7.1 Short Circuiting Transfer - Straight carbon dioxide (CO2) is often used for short
for Welding Low circuiting arc welding because of its low cost. The deep penetration usually associated with
Alloy Steels
CO2 is minimized because of the low amperage and voltage settings used with this process.
Compared to other gas mixes, CO2 will produce a harsher arc and therefore, greater spatter
Lesson 5 levels. Usually, this is minimized by maintaining a short arc length and by careful adjustment of
Welding Filler Metals the power supply inductance. The temperatures reached in welding will cause carbon dioxide
for Stainless Steels
to decompose into carbon monoxide and oxygen. To reduce the possibility of porosity caused
by entrapped oxygen in the weld metal, it is wise to use electrodes that contain deoxidizing Turn Pages
Lesson 6 elements, such as silicon and manganese. If the current is increased above the short circuiting
Carbon & Low Alloy range, the use of carbon dioxide tends to produce a globular transfer.
Steel Filler Metals -
GMAW,GTAW,SAW
2.4.7.1.1 Mixing argon in proportions of 50-75% with carbon dioxide will produce a smoother
arc and reduce spatter levels. It will also widen the bead profile, reduce penetration, and
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encourage "wetting". Wetting, i.e., a uniform fusion, along with joining edges of the base metal Chapter
Flux Cored Arc
Electrodes Carbon and the weld metal, minimizes the weld imperfection known as undercutting (See Figure 17). (Faster
Low Alloy Steels Download)

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Lesson 8 (Slower
Hardsurfacing UNDERCUT WETTING Download)
Electrodes
FIGURE 17

Lesson 9 2.4.7.1.2 The 75% Argon/25 CO2 mixture is often chosen for short circuit welding of thin
Estimating &
sections, whereas the 50-50 combination works well on thicker sections.
Comparing Weld
Metal Costs
2.4.7.1.3 It should be noted that shielding gases can affect the metallurgy of the weld metal.
As an example, a combination of argon and carbon dioxide may be used for welding stainless
Lesson 10 steel, but as the carbon dioxide breaks down, excessive carbon may be transferred into the
Reliability of Welding
Filler Metals

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