Abstract:

A new welding method named double shielded tungsten inert gas (TIG) has been developed to improve the TIG weld penetration. The main principles to increase the weld depth have been discussed. Results show that the critical oxygen content in the weld pool is around 100 × 10⁻⁶ as the temperature coefficient of surface tension changes from negative to positive. The tracer test using pure silver shows that the direction of Marangoni convection changes as the oxygen content increases in the weld pool. The effect of arc constriction on the weld depth has been evaluated on a water-cooled copper plate, and the result indicates that the torch of double shielded can give a more powerful arc. Heavy oxide on the pool surface has undesirable impacts on the increasing of weld depth as the oxygen excessively accumulates in weld pool. It is possible to form chromium oxide in the weld process, while the iron oxide may form as the weld surface exposes to the air after the shielded gas moving away.

Key words: Marangoni convection, Penetration, Tungsten inert gas (TIG), Arc, Oxide