Alkaline Earth Welding Wire for Stable High-Deposition Arc Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing metal arc welding technologies face challenges in achieving high deposition rates while maintaining the quality of weld beads, particularly at rates exceeding 30 pounds per hour, due to instability of the plasma arc, which results in unacceptable mechanical properties and appearance.

Innovation Solution

The use of consumable welding wires with alkaline earth metal elements, such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba, alloyed with a base metal composition at concentrations between 0.005% and 10%, combined with power regulation to maintain a constant power delivery to the plasma arc, ensuring stability and high deposition rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high deposition rates are achieved by improving consumable electrode wires, then productivity increases, but plasma arc stability deteriorates resulting in unacceptable weld bead quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rateVSAvoidplasma arc stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the electrode wire, specifically adding alkaline earth metal elements (Ca, Sr, Ba) at controlled concentrations (0.005% to 10% by weight). This compositional parameter change enables the plasma arc to remain stable at high deposition rates (exceeding 30 lbs/hr) that would otherwise cause arc instability with conventional electrode compositions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high deposition rates exceeding 30 pounds per hour are achieved, then productivity increases, but weld bead quality in terms of mechanical properties and appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rateVSAvoidweld bead quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrode wire by incorporating alkaline earth metal elements (Ca, Sr, Ba) at specific concentrations (0.005% to 10% by weight). This compositional modification enables the maintenance of high weld bead quality with desirable mechanical properties (yield strength, ductility, fracture toughness) and appearance even at high deposition rates exceeding 30 pounds per hour, where conventional electrodes would produce unacceptable weld quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If power is increased to achieve high deposition rates, then productivity increases, but plasma arc stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rateVSAvoidplasma arc stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the electrode wire composition to include alkaline earth metal elements (Ca, Sr, Ba) at controlled concentrations (0.005% to 10% by weight). This compositional parameter change allows the plasma arc to maintain stability even when high power is applied to achieve deposition rates exceeding 30 pounds per hour, eliminating the trade-off between power level and arc stability that exists with conventional electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for high deposition rates exceeding 30 pounds per hour while producing weld beads with desirable mechanical properties like yield strength and ductility, and reduces plasma arc instability, resulting in improved weld quality.

Implementation Method 1

an electric arc is created between a consumable weld electrode wire, which serves as one electrode that advances towards a workpiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric arc: Electric Arc

Implementation Method 2

applying power to a welding wire to generate a plasma arc sufficient to melt the welding wire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 3

one or more alkaline earth metal elements at a concentration between 0.005% and 10% on the basis of a total weight of the welding wire, where the atoms of the one or more alkaline earth metal elements are alloyed with a base metal composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAlloying: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3569343B1Method of arc welding
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 LINCOLN GLOBAL INC
  • EP3569343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3569343B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3569343B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The disclosed technology generally relates to welding, and more particularly to a consumable electrode wire for metal arc welding, and a method and a system for metal arc welding using the consumable electrode wire. In one aspect, a consumable welding wire configured to serve as an electrode during metal arc welding comprises one or more alkaline earth metal elements at a concentration between 0.005% and 10% on the basis of a totafweight of the welding wire.