Welding Electrode: Learn About What Are These and Its Types

Date Posted:26 December 2022 

Welding electrodes are an essential piece of equipment for any welding job. These versatile pieces of hardware allow metal workers to join metal components together, creating high-strength and durable bonds. 

However, with so many different types of welding electrodes available on the market, it can be challenging to know which one to choose. This blog post will provide an overview of welding electrodes and the various types available to decide which type is best for your specific needs.

 

Why are Welding Electrodes Coated?

Welding electrodes are coated for several reasons. Firstly, the coating helps protect the core of the electrode from the atmosphere and contamination. 

 

The coatings also shield the arc and the atmosphere, preventing oxidation of the weld metal during welding. Secondly, the coating helps increase the electrode's electrical conductivity, improving its performance. 

 

Lastly, it provides access to specific alloys that help to improve mechanical properties such as strength or ductility. For example, a stainless steel electrode with a nickel-iron-chrome coating may have enhanced corrosion resistance compared to a plain carbon steel electrode. Thus, using a coated electrode allows welders to produce higher-quality welds with better properties.

How Do We Classify Welding Electrodes?

The following is the electrode identification method for steel arc welding.

 

E.g., E6010-X

 

• This E represents the electrode used for arc welding.
• The first two or three digits show the tensile strength, in thousands of pounds per square inch, of the deposited material when ripped apart.
• The third or fourth digit specifies the weld's location. If a value of 0 is presented, no categorisation is used; a value of 1 indicates all positions; a value of 2 indicates flat and horizontal positions, and a value of 3 shows only flat positions.
• The fourth digit specifies the type of coating and the type of power source, AC/DC, with either a straight or reverse polarity.
• The code E6010 currently designates an arc welding rod with a stress tensile strength of 60,000 psi, use in all locations, and direct current with strict polarity.

What Are the Types of Welding Electrodes?

1. Consumable Electrode

Low melting points characterise disposable electrodes. These welding electrodes are typically used for Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding. Consumable electrodes are those formed of metals like mild steel and nickel steel. Only the routine replacement of disposable electrodes counts as a precaution. Although they are simple to use and maintain, the biggest drawback of using such electrodes is that they have few industrial applications.

 

There are two types of consumable electrodes:

 

Bare Electrodes

When a coated electrode is not required, bare electrodes—electrodes without a covering—are frequently used.

 

Coating-covered Electrodes

Electrodes that have a coating are categorised using the coating factor. The coating factor is the ratio of the electrode's diameter to the core wire's diameter.

2. Non-Consumable Electordes

There are two kinds of non-consumable electrodes:

 

• Carbon or graphite electrodes- These are made of carbon and graphite and are commonly used in cutting and arc welding applications.
• Tungsten electrodes- As the name implies, it is made of tungsten and is a non-filler metal electrode.

 

As their name suggests, these welding electrodes are not consumed or, more precisely, do not melt during the entire welding process. However, the electrode length is diminished due to the vaporisation and oxidation processes during welding. 

 

Non-consumable electrodes have a high melting point and cannot bridge the gap between the workpiece and the electrode. Copper-coated graphite or pure tungsten are examples of non-consumable materials used to create non-consumable electrodes. The melting point of carbon is 3350 degrees Celsius, while that of tungsten is 3422 degrees Celsius.

Conclusion

We have seen the different kinds of welding electrodes that are used in metalworking applications. The right welding electrode can make or break a metalworking job, so it's essential to choose the right type and know how to use it properly. 

 

If you're looking for welding supplies online for your project, National Welding and Industrial Supplies are here for you! We have a great selection of quality welding supplies for your convenience. Get yours now!

 

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