Lesson 2 - Common Electric Arc Welding Processes

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Lesson 1
The Basics of Arc
Welding

LESSON II
profile (See Figure 16), penetration, and speed of welding. In our discussion, we will deal with

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the more common choices used for the various transfer processes.

Lesson 2
Common Electric
Arc Welding
Processes

FERROUS METALS

NON-FERROUS METALS

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Lesson 3
Covered Electrodes
for Welding
Mild Steels

CO2

ARGON + CO2

ARGON + O2

ARGON

HELIUM

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BEAD PROFILE
FIGURE 16

Lesson 4
Covered Electrodes
for Welding Low
Alloy Steels

2.4.7.1

Short Circuiting Transfer - Straight carbon dioxide (CO2) is often used for short

Glossary

circuiting arc welding because of its low cost. The deep penetration usually associated with
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
Welding Filler Metals
for Stainless Steels

levels. Usually, this is minimized by maintaining a short arc length and by careful adjustment of
the power supply inductance. The temperatures reached in welding will cause carbon dioxide
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

Lesson 6
Carbon & Low Alloy
Steel Filler Metals GMAW,GTAW,SAW

range, the use of carbon dioxide tends to produce a globular transfer.

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

Lesson 7
Flux Cored Arc
Electrodes Carbon
Low Alloy Steels

Lesson 8
Hardsurfacing
Electrodes

Lesson 9
Estimating &
Comparing Weld
Metal Costs

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elements, such as silicon and manganese. If the current is increased above the short circuiting

encourage "wetting". Wetting, i.e., a uniform fusion, along with joining edges of the base metal
and the weld metal, minimizes the weld imperfection known as undercutting (See Figure 17).

UNDERCUT

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WETTING
FIGURE 17

2.4.7.1.2 The 75% Argon/25 CO2 mixture is often chosen for short circuit welding of thin
sections, whereas the 50-50 combination works well on thicker sections.
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
Reliability of Welding
Filler Metals

steel, but as the carbon dioxide breaks down, excessive carbon may be transferred into the

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6/13/2015