Characteristics of Welding and Arc Pressure in the Plasma–TIG Coupled Arc Welding Process

• Main Authors: Bo Wang, Xun-Ming Zhu, Hong-Chang Zhang, Hong-Tao Zhang, Ji-Cai Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-07-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: plasma-TIG; coupled arc; arc profile; pressure distribution
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/8/7/512

In this article, a novel hybrid welding process called plasma-TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas welding) coupled arc welding was proposed to improve the efficiency and quality of welding by utilizing the full advantage of plasma and TIG welding processes. The two arcs of plasma and TIG were pulled into each other into one coupled arc under the effect of Lorentz force and plasma flow force during welding experiments. The arc behavior of coupled arc was studied by means of its arc profile, arc pressure and arc force conditions. The coupled arc pressure distribution measurements were performed. The effects of welding conditions on coupled arc pressure were evaluated and the maximum coupled arc pressure was improved compared with single-plasma arc and single-TIG arc. It was found that the maximum arc pressure was mainly determined by plasma arc current and plasma gas flow. Compared with traditional hybrid welding method, the efficiency was obviously higher and the welding heat-input was lower. The epitaxial solidification of the weld was inhibited, the tensile strength of the welded joints was higher. According to the results, the proposed coupled arc welding process has both advantages of plasma arc and TIG method, and it has a broad application prospect.