The physical and chemical behavior of steel welding consumables

Physical and chemical reactions at the welding electrode tip, in the welding arc, and in the weld pool, which influence final weld metal composition, were identified. Three reaction zones were defined, and specific properties and behaviors important to modelers are reported. To produce a weld deposit with high mechanical integrity and productivity, many physical and chemical phenomena must occur properly in the welding arc. The development of welding consumables (wire and rod electrodes, fluxes, shielding gas mixtures) has traditionally been based on hands-on knowledge of the behavior of various materials in the welding arc. However, increasing demands on weld performance require that the design of future welding consumables incorporates advanced analytical approaches, including modeling.