Welding Electrode

Welding Electrodes

are the most part of welding work and without these, welding is impossible.

Generally, these welding electrodes can be classified into two-part which are as follows

Type of Basic welding electrode

Consumable (Metallic)Welding Electrodes
Non-Consumable (refractory)Welding Electrodes

1-Non-Consumable Welding electrodes

Welding Electrodes that are not fused at the time of welding and only act as electrical conductors that generate arcs to get sufficient heat, called None- Consumable welding electrode, and they are made of (high melting points) metals such as carbon (melting point 6700 ° F, pure tungsten 615 ° F).

These electrodes do not melt while welding.

Separate filler wire is used with these electrodes to fill the joint.
Non-consumable welding electrodes are as follows

Carbon /Graphite welding electrodes
Tungsten Welding electrodes

Carbon/Graphite welding electrodes

These types of electrodes are coated with copper. Copper increases the electrical conductivity of electrodes.

Tungsten Welding electrodes

Tungsten electrodes are also non-consumable electrodes, which are mainly used in three types.

Pure tungsten electrode
Thoriated tungsten electrode
Zirconiated Electrode

They also come under non-consumable electrodes, but they are costlier than carbon or graphite electrodes.

color code of tungsten electrodes

2% Thoriated (RED): 1.7-2.2% Thorium Oxide

suitable for use in Direct Current (D/C) applications using a transformer-based constant current power supply. Good D/C arc starts and stability, medium erosion rate, medium amperage range, the medium tendency to spit. used on non-corroding steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys.

0.8% Zirconated (White): 0.7-0.9% Zirconium Oxide

Suitable for use In Alternating Current (A/C) for aluminum alloys and magnesium alloys using inverter or transformer-based constant current power supply. Balls well handles higher amperage than pure tungsten with less spitting, better arc starts, and arc stability than pure tungsten.

1.5% Lanthanotid (Gold) 1.3-1.7% Lanthanum Oxide

Suitable for use in Direct Current (D/C) as an alternative to 2% Thoriated using inverter or transformer-based constant current power supply. Best D/C arc starts and stability, low erosion rate, wide amperage range, no spitting. Best for non-corroding steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys.

2% CERlATED (GREY) (FORMERLY ORANGE) 1.8-2.2% Cerium Oxide

Suitable for use in Alternating Current (A/C) or Direct Current (D/C) applications using inverter or transformer-based constant current power supply, long life, excellent arc stability, low erosion rate, best at low amperage range, no spitting, good D/C arc starts, and stability. Suitable for low-alloyed steels, non-corroding steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys. Good ignition and re-ignition properties.

PURE (GREEN)

Suitable for use in Alternating Current (A/C) for aluminum alloys and magnesium alloys in low to medium amperage applications using transformer-based constant current power sources only. Balls easily tend to spit at a higher amperage, Used for non-critical welds only.

2% LANTHANATED (BLUE) 1.8-2.2% Lanthanum Oxide

Suitable for use in the general-purpose electrode for both Alternating Current (A/C) or Direct Current (D/C) using inverter or transformer-based constant current power supply, Suitable for low-alloyed steels, non-corroding steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys. Good arc starts and stability, medium to high amperage range, low erosion rate.

1.5% Lanthanum,0.08% Zirconium,0.08% Yttrium Oxides

Suitable for automated or robotic applications in Alternating Current (A/C) or Direct Current (D/C) due to low voltage tolerance (changes in tip to workpiece distance) using inverter or transformer-based constant current power supply. Good for low-alloyed steels, non-corroding steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, alloys, nickel alloys, copper alloys. Very stable tip geometry runs cooler than 2% Thoriated with longer life, low to medium amperage range.

Very best low amperage starts.

2-Consumable (Metallic)Welding Electrodes

This type of welding electrode has lower melting points than non-consumable electrodes and fills the joint during melting and welding
This type of welding electrode is maybe fluxed and without flux. It is used for two tasks simultaneously, first as the conductor of the electricity for striking Ark to get the sufficient heat and also as filler metal to fill the joint.

Type of Consumable Welding Electrodes

Consumable Electrodes can be classified as follows:

Flux covered Welding Electrodes
Bare Electrodes

Flux covered Welding Electrodes

This type of electrode has a flux coating that protects the weld pool from atmospheric contamination by creating a layer on the surface of the fused weld metal.

Bare Electrodes

These type of electrodes doesn't have any flux and required additional shielding gas to protect the fused metal from the atmospheric contamination of the molten weld pool.