Metal powder welding

The method is similar to normal submerged arc welding, but with the difference that in addition to the feed, and the flux an extra filler is also added in the form of a metal powder.

A constant feed of a metal wire, which also acts as an electrode is fed by a spool [1] through a control mechanism [2]. A metal powder[3] is supplied to the joint preparation between the two workpieces and used to better take advantage of the thermal energy that occurs during welding, which leads to a more efficient process. An alternative to this type of supplying metal powders is instead to keep the filler material adjacent to the electrode. The powder will then be bound to it magnetically and thus melt.

On top of the metal powder a granular fusible flux [4] is added with the task of creating a protective atmosphere. The workpiece and the electrode is then connected to a power source for creating an arc [5]. Note that the electric arc is hidden under the flux.

As a result of the high thermal energy, the electrode and parts of the workpiece melts to a mixture of slag and melt. When the melt is cooled a weld joint is formed and the remaining slag and flux is removed [6].

Due to the use of flux, there is no need to supply a protective gas.