Tungsten Electrodes: Knowing the Variants and Their Features

IRVINE, Calif. - Jan. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Before you choose and get ready to use tungsten electrodesfor any application, you need to know some facts by analogy withother tungsten materials like tungsten rods and tungsten heaters etc. Tungsten is not a common metal and it plays an important role in manufacturing tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding systems. The main feature of tungsten that makes it different from other metals is high temperature resistance. In addition, it is the only metal that can offer type of hardness required for the purpose.

How to Choose Right One

Incredibly higher melting point of tungsten makes tungsten electrodes a choice to transmit the current to the welding arc. However, you should know some facts before deciding what type of electrode is right for a particular application. First, identify what type of current is to be used because alternating and direct current have different requirements. Second, thickness and type of base material also have a role in this regard.

Once you have all the facts, it becomes easier to decide what should be the length and size of tungsten electrode. Also choose whether a hybrid of tungsten with other material is suitable or application requires pure tungsten. In case of pure tungsten, the consumption rate is highest of all electrodes because it contains almost cent percent tungsten.

Knowing the Variants

It is possible to get good arc stability with balanced wave alternating current. It becomes possible because of formation of balled tip by electrodes on heating. Many options are available when we talk of hybrid electrodes such as thoriated tungsten electrodes, ceriated tungsten electrodes, lanthanted tungsten electrodes and zirconiated tungsten electrodes.

In case of thoriated electrodes, 97.3 % or even more is formed by tungsten and balance by thorium. Trouble free use and prolonged existence are the key aspects of these electrodes which make them a popular choice. Higher capacity to carry current, improved arc start, minimum weld contamination and increased electron emission quality are some of the benefits of these electrodes.

Now, let us understand some facts about ceriated tungsten electrodes. The proportion of tungsten is similar to Thorium. These are best suitable for applications like pipe manufacturing where low amperage and outstanding arc starts are required. You get exceptionally well performance with low current settings in direct current welding. Welding of small and delicate parts and thin sheet metal work are few other application where thee electrodes are used.

More than 97.8 % tungsten is used in lanthanated tungsten electrodes along with lanthanum. Some of the main features of these electrodes are quick re-ignition ability, low burn-off rate, arc stability and extraordinary arc starting. It is feasible to replace with thorium with slight changes in welding program.

The share of tungsten is more than 99.1% in zirconiated tungsten electrode.

The current transmitting capacity is almost similar to that of thorium. Stable arc and resistance power against tungsten spitting are its key features. However, experts do not recommend it for direct current welding. One more variety in this sequence is rare earth tungsten electrode that is made up of rare earth oxides in different proportions.

About Stanford Advanced Materials,  http://www.samaterials.com/

Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM) Corporation is a global supplier of a series of pure metals, alloys, ceramics and minerals such as oxides, chlorides, sulfides, oxysalts, etc. Our headquarter, located in Irvine, California, USA, was first established in 1994, starting to provide high-quality rare-earth products for research and development (R&D).  www.samaterials.com concentrates on the materials of tantalum and niobium because we take the lead in processing these kinds of refractory and superhard metals. The product line of these two elements ranges from ingots, foils, sheets, tubes, rods, wires, meshes, crucibles and flanges of single element to those of alloys.