Arc welding

Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

Bare Metal Arc Welding (113) BMAW Consumable electrode, no flux or shielding gas Historical

Carbon Arc Welding (181) CAW Carbon electrode, historical Copper, repair (limited)

FCAW
136
Flux Cored Arc Welding FCAW- Continuous consumable electrode filled with flux Industry, construction
137
S

131
Gas Metal Arc Welding [3] GMAW Continuous consumable electrode and shielding gas Industry
135

Aerospace, Construction (piping),

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding [4] 141 GTAW Non consumable electrode, slow, high quality welds
Tool and Die

Plasma Arc Welding 15 PAW Nonconsumable electrode, constricted arc Tubing, instrumentation

Consumable electrode covered in flux, can weld any metal as long as

Shielded Metal Arc Welding [5] 111 SMAW Construction, outdoors, maintenance
they have the right electrode

Submerged Arc Welding 121 SAW Automatic, arc submerged in granular flux
 Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

Magnetically Impelled Arc both tube ends are electrodes; no protection gas; arc rotates fast
185 MIAB pipelines and tubes
Butt along edge by applied magnetic field

Atomic Hydrogen Welding (149) AHW Two metal electrodes in hydrogen atmosphere Historical

Oxyfuel gas welding[edit]

Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

Air acetylene welding (321) AAW Chemical welding process, not popular Limited

Combustion of acetylene with oxygen produces high-temperature

Oxyacetylene welding 311 OAW Maintenance, repair
flame, inexpensive equipment

Oxygen/Propane welding 312 Gas welding with oxygen/propane flame

Oxyhydrogen welding 313 OHW Combustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces flame Limited

Pressure gas welding PGW Gas flames heat surfaces and pressure produces the weld Pipe, railroad rails (limited)

Resistance welding[edit]
 Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

Two pointed electrodes apply pressure and current to two or more Automobile industry, Aerospace
Resistance spot welding 21 RSW
thin workpieces industry

Two wheel-shaped electrodes roll along workpieces, applying Aerospace industry, steel drums,
Resistance seam welding[6] 22 RSEW
pressure and current tubing

Semi-Automatic, Automatic, Welds are localized at predetermined

Projection welding 23 PW
points.

Flash welding 24 FW

Upset welding 25 UW Butt joint surfaces heated and brought together by force

Solid-state welding[edit]
Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

Joining of corrosion resistant alloys

Coextrusion Welding CEW Dissimilar metals are extruded through the same die to cheaper alloys or alloys with more
favorable mechanical properties

Joining of soft alloys such as copper and aluminium below their

Cold pressure welding 48 CW Electrical contacts
melting point
Diffusion welding 45 DFW No weld line visible Titanium pump impellor wheels

Joining of dissimilar materials, e.g. corrosion resistant alloys to Transition joints for chemical industry
Explosion welding 441 EXW
structural steels and shipbuilding. Bimetal pipelines

Electromagnetic pulse Tubes or sheets are accelerated by electromagnetic forces. Oxides Automotive industry, pressure
welding are expelled during impact vessels, dissimilar material joints

The oldest welding process in the world. Oxides must be removed

Forge welding (43) FOW Damascus steel
by flux or flames.

Thin heat affected zone, oxides disrupted by friction, needs sufficient Aerospace industry, railway, land
Friction welding 42 FRW
pressure transport

Shipbuilding, aerospace, railway

Friction stir welding FSW A rotating non-consumable tool is traversed along the joint line
rolling stock, automotive industry

Metals are pressed together at elevated temperatures below the

Hot pressure welding HPW Aerospace components
melting point in vacuum or an inert gas atmosphere

Hot isostatic pressure A hot inert gas applies the pressure inside a pressure vessel, i.e.
47 HPW Aerospace components
welding an autoclave

Bimetallic materials are joined by forcing them between two rotating

Roll welding ROW Dissimilar materials
wheels
 High-frequency vibratory energy is applied to foils, thin metal sheets Solar industries-. Electronics. Rear
Ultrasonic welding 41 USW
or plastics. lights of cars. Diapers.

Other types of welding[edit]

Name N AWS Characteristics Applications

51
Electron beam welding EBW Deep penetration, fast, high equipment cost
511

Heavy plate fabrication,

Welds thick workpieces quickly, vertical position, steel only,
Electroslag welding 72 ESW construction,
continuous consumable electrode.
shipbuilding.

Joining rails in situ (in the form

Flow welding Distortion is minimized, and the thermal cycle is relatively benign [7].
of thermit welding)

Induction welding 74 IW

521
Laser beam welding LBW Deep penetration, fast, high equipment cost Automotive industry
522

Laser-hybrid welding
Combines LBW with GMAW in the same welding head, able to bridge
Automotive, Shipbuilding,
gaps up to 2mm (between plates), previously not possible with LBW
Steelwork industries
alone.
 Following an electrical discharge, pressure is applied which forges Components of switch gear
Percussion welding 77 PEW
the materials together devices

Exothermic reaction between alumnium powder and iron oxide

Thermite welding 71 TW Railway tracks
powder

Electrogas welding 73 Continuous consumable electrode, vertical positioning, steel only Storage tanks, shipbuilding

Stud arc welding 78 Welds studs to base material with heat and pressure