Steel is one of the most versatile and widely used materials in today’s world. But to achieve the highest levels of strength, durability, and quality, it needs to be made with tungsten.
Tungsten is an essential ingredient for steel production. It is used as a hardening agent, which increases the steel’s corrosion resistance and tensile strength.
This article will explore why tungsten is essential for steel production, as well as how it can be used to create perfect steel products every time.
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How to choose the right tungsten for TIG welding?
Choosing the right tungsten for TIG welding is crucial for a successful weld. Tungsten is available in a variety of sizes and grades, and all have unique characteristics that make them better suited for certain welding jobs. For welding steel, for instance, a tungsten with a 2% thoriated or rare-earth oxide coating is ideal.
When selecting tungsten, it’s important to consider the type of weld you’re doing. There are several types of tungsten, each with its properties.
E3 tungsten, for example, is ideal for AC welding.
Meanwhile, EC-1 or EC-2 tungsten is better suited for DC welding. It’s also important to consider the size of the tungsten, as it should match the job and the size of the electrode you’ll be using.
Another factor to consider when selecting the right tig welding tungsten is the type of electrode you’ll be using. Different types of electrodes have different properties, such as surface finish, current capacity, and welding speed.
Some electrodes are better suited for certain jobs and material types than others.
An electrode made from 2% thoriated tungsten is ideal for steel, for example.
By taking the time to consider all of these factors, you’ll be able to choose the right tungsten for your TIG welding tungsten job. Whether you’re tig welding stainless steel or any other material, the right tungsten will help ensure a successful weld.
Rust resistance with tungsten alloying
Tungsten alloys act as a cathode in oxidation-reduction reactions, meaning when electrons are present in solution, tungsten will attract them to itself, drawing them away from the steel and providing a layer of protection from corrosion.
In copper alloys, the use of tungsten increases strength reduces weight and increases the alloy’s corrosion resistance.
Titanium alloys with tungsten can be extremely heat-resistant and provide superior strength.
In aluminum alloys, tungsten increases hardness and improves the alloy’s strength and toughness.
In nickel alloys, tungsten increases the alloy’s resistance to corrosion and oxidation.
In short, tungsten alloying can be used to significantly enhance the corrosion resistance of steel, as well as of certain copper, titanium, aluminum, and nickel alloys used in various industries. When combined with steel, tungsten helps to form a protective outer layer that shields the steel from oxidation and corrosion.
As a result, tungsten alloys can be an effective and cost-effective way to protect against rust and other forms of corrosion.
Tungsten electrode types and uses
TIG electrodes can be sorted depending on their chemical composition id and the main oxide used as the percentage of total electrode mass.
For ease, tungsten electrodes each have different codes and colors.
It is composed mainly of thorium, lanthanum zirconium, or cerium. It’s possible that this add-on can range anywhere from 0.25% to 0.15%. The following color charts summarize the different types of TIG tungsten electrodes.
Thoriated electrodes red
Thoriated tungsten electrodes (AWS classification BXW-4) contain minimums of 95.60 percent Tungsten or 2.80 to 2.20 percent Thorium.
Thoriated electrodes are known as 2 p. It has the highest number of uses today for electrodes that have excellent longevity.
Thoriated electrodes are radioactive material, and all safety measures must be followed precisely, especially when grinding thoriated tungsten electrodes.
Thorium oxide
The tungsten slurry electrodes are filled with 75% tungsten and 22% thorium oxide. The products are very durable and very easily used, this is another bonus. Thorium oxide electrodes can be used on power supplies.
They are suited to thin steel plates since they have average corrosion rates and a reasonable amperage requirement. But the thorium oxide produces alpha particles causing dangers in humans.
Thorium electrodes are less effective at AC welding than tungsten electrodes. In addition, ball-like ends are difficult to keep.
The biggest disadvantage of thoriated electrodes is that they contain radioactive material in thorium addition.
Therefore it is best to grind a tungsten electrode with high heat. Several welding professionals choose to employ lanthanide and ceramic electrode systems for safety reasons. They’re also the right choice for specific DC welding jobs on carbon steel, steel, nickel, and titanium.
Pure tungsten electrode green
The tungsten electrode is 95.99% tungsten. When welding magnesium or aluminum with an alternating current, green TIG welding electrodes are most typically utilized (AC).
Pure tungsten is an antique electrode material that was closely associated with the discovery of gas tungsten arc welding.
These electrodes were originally intended for aluminum and magnesium welding and are still in use today.
Green tungsten electrodes, on the other hand, include produced oxides and have a larger current capacity, making them excellent for DC welding operations.
Lanthanated electrodes gold
Lanthanated tungsten electrodes are generally 1.5%, 10.5 %, or 11.5% lanthanated.
Lanthanated electrodes offer excellent starting, slowed burning rate, excellent arc stability, and excellent extinction properties – many similar to those offered by cerated electrodes.
Yellow EWTh-1/WT10
The tungsten electrode is designed mainly for DC welding.
Its yellow EWTh1 maintains a sharp edge, which makes it ideal to TIG weld carbon steel. Using alternating current is difficult.
Ceriated electrodes gray, former: orange
Ceriated electrodes are made of 96.90 percent of titanium tungsten with a percentage of 1.80% CeO2-Ceria oxide, also called cerium oxide.
Even though there are several ceriated electrode grades, only one has commercial significance. It is an EWCe2 which has a gray tip.
EWCe-2 ceriated electrodes give an optimum performance during DC welding at low amp voltage.
Comparisons between gray electrodes and green tungsten, ceriated tungsten electrodes demonstrate exceptionally high start and stable arc speeds and low vaporization rates.
Ceriated electrodes at lower temperatures for small, precise parts, pipe fabricating, and welding thin metal.
Zirconiated electrodes brown
The zirconiated electrodes are composed of tungsten and have 0.35% zirconium oxide.
These can handle higher amps of energy with higher retention and are ideal for welding magnesium and thin gauge aluminum alloys. This is especially good for specialty AC welding jobs and extremely resistant to splitting.
The Brown TIG welding electrode was invented to provide an alternative to pure tungsten which is visible by its high concentration.
The same electrode is used in the tungsten-based electrical work which includes TIG welding aluminum alloys.
A large amount of tungsten produces an extremely stable arc that maintains a balled point. The addition of zirconium oxide also enhances the start arc, produces a lower amount of spits, and handles higher amperage well.
Rare earth tungsten electrodes
The rare earth tungsten electrodes are made of rare earth materials.
In addition, oxide also gives a variety of characteristic qualities for special AC welding and direct current systems.
Although rare earth electrodes contain no oxide, the manufacturer must list the additives in the package as part of their composition.
When using DC electrode negative welding for steel, it is important to use pure tungsten electrodes. They are made of pure tungsten, and their tip has a yellowish-white color.
They are designed to provide excellent arc stability and can handle a high range of voltage.
Finally, the pure tungsten electrode is made of pure tungsten and is designed for low-amperage welding applications on steel.
Rare earth electrodes tip has a blackish-brown color. They offer excellent arc stability and offer a unique set of benefits that make them the best choice for difficult welding jobs.
No matter which type of tungsten electrode you use, they all offer superior control, an extended lifespan, and high heat resistance. They are designed to provide the highest level of quality and performance for welding steel.
Conclusion
The use of tungsten for steel is essential for the manufacture of superior-quality products. Its superior properties and its ability to create even surfaces and resist corrosion and wear make it an ideal choice for many applications.
The use of tungsten for steel provides a cost-effective solution that provides enhanced performance and superior quality. With its ability to create superior surfaces and its superior physical properties, tungsten is an essential ingredient for any stainless steel manufacturing process.
FAQ
What is Tungsten?
Tungsten is a rare, metallic element found in the Earth’s crust, with properties that make it an invaluable addition to steel alloys.
It has one of the highest melting points of all metals at over 6,000°F (3,300°C), and it is incredibly hard and dense, making it ideal for use in cutting tools and other applications where strength and durability are required.
Which tungsten is best for stainless steel?
Lanthanized tungsten can maintain a well-polished point and is ideal for welded steel. This is used to provide alternating current power to square wave power sources.
What color tungsten should I use for stainless steel?
In the specific case of steel, the most acceptable tungsten colors are grey or white. Gray and Silver Tintungstens are made from a mix of oxides and lanthanated tungsten electrodes and enable the superior stability of spherically shaped arcs, with long life.
Green pure tungsten electrodes work well on AC sine wave welding and form a solid balled tip that results in an extremely stable arc.
On the other hand, green tungsten electrodes contain created oxides and provide higher current capacity—ideal for DC welding operations.
Yellow, the lanthanated tungsten electrode is considered a suitable replacement for thoriated tungsten electrode.
What tungsten is used for welding stainless steel?
You can use any kind of tungsten on stainless except pure tungsten used in aluminum. Red and truncated tungsten are very common but radioactive.
Alternatively, zirconiated tungsten electrodes provide greater security and reliability.
What size tungsten for stainless steel?
The tungsten body will be 3/32″, for everything from 16g stainless to 1/2″ welded stainless pipe and flat metal.
What is green tungsten?
It is made of tungsten and may be used with electric (AC) voltages as well as direct current (“DC”) and argon and helium shielding. These materials are often less expensive and have a lower energy capacity.
What is orange tungsten?
The grey tungsten electrode was created using the earlier orange tungsten. This is ideal for AC or DC applications that demand constant current from inverters or transformers and works well for low-power output.
They are effective welding materials for non-corrosive metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium.
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