EFFECT OF WELDING CONDITIONS ON PROPERTIES OF STEEL WELDMENTS

Abstract

In most modem industries which depend on welding, economics dictate that applying suitable welding condition to produce high quality welds without defects. The most important factor involved in the high quality of steel weldements is the selection of suitable welding condition like arc current , arc voltage, welding speed, and type of electrode .

This study has been carried out to clarify the effect of welding conditions, in terms of heat input, on the mechanical and corrosion properties of steel weldement, and compare the results obtained using different types of electrodes.

Welding were carried out using tungsten inert gas TIG process with different welding conditions at different tungsten electrode types .

In addition evaluation of corrosion behavior, measurement of hardness of weldments, area of weld metal and width of heat affected zone (HAZ) were carried out to select the best electrode performance at the same welding conditions.

The results obtained showed that the W-Ce02 electrode gives the largest area of weld metal , width of HAZ and highest efficiency while the W-Th02 gives the highest hardness of weld metal and HAZ , and highest corrosion rate.