Tungsten Electrodes Find Application in Arc Welding With Tungsten Inert Gas Process or Plasma Welding

 

When you first look at a weld puddle or tangle of weld, chances are that you'll find one or more layers of rusty brown tungsten electrodes. While this is to be expected under the best of circumstances, it can cause problems for welders who don't pay attention to what they're doing or simply try to go straight to the good stuff when they see it. In order to avoid this, you should understand what all these electrodes actually are and how they interact with your welding process. Once you understand how tungsten electrodes work, you'll see why you need to be cautious with the ones you use in your shop.

A major advantage of tungsten as a welding electrode material is its low work function. A tungsten electrode consists of an alloy layer and a backing sheet that act like a shield. It protects the impure particles from penetrating the welding area, while allowing the current to be directed where you need it. In Japan, tungsten electrodes are used when arc welding with the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) process or Plasma welding. In addition to the different alloys used to create the electrode, they may also contain other materials, such as: oxygen, silicon, magnesium, boron, or even boron nitride. In general, the backing is made of a material that's similar in structure to the electrode, though it has a lesser electrical charge than the electrode itself.

The impure impurities won't be attracted to the tungsten electrode, so they don't interfere with the welded arc failure. That's why they're often referred to as shielding gases. The only time that the impure particles will be attracted to the tungsten electrode is when the welder ionizes the base material. When the impurities come into contact with the tungsten, they'll form a kind of barrier that ensures that no current can flow - which prevents the arc from being damaged, especially from arc flashes.