Plasma welding is an attained form of welding processes with modern innovation. Due to its numerous advantages over traditional arc welding and laser processes, its usage is becoming more prominent in the industrial sector. With plasma welding, the operator is able to obtain direct access to greater speeds (four times faster than mig welding), grain size refinement and improved penetration.
Metal buildings, ships, aerospace, and even cars all benefit from plasma welding when assembling and constructing their parts. According to research, it is estimated that the plasma welding market is expected to reach $
75 billion by 202Now what makes plasma welding so special?
What is Plasma Welding?
Plasma welding is an electric arc method of welding that has been used since the 1940’s.It is a process that uses an electric arc to heat the metal being welded and a stream of high velocity ionized gas that is produced by the arc. This process is often used to join metals or treat them by providing a hard face or surface coating to them.
How Does Plasma Welding Work?
In plasma welding, an electrical arc is created between two electrodes, such as a tungsten electrode, and the weldment is held close to the arc. The plasma welding arc then melts the electrode and the weldment, creating a fused bond between them. The high velocity ionized gas that is produced by the arc is known as the plasma stream.
The plasma gas stream acts to further heat the weldment and helps to control the shape of the weld.
Advantages of Plasma Welding
Plasma welding has several advantages over traditional arc welding processes.Some of these include the following:
- It is able to weld harder and thicker materials than some other welding processes
- The welds are consistently of high quality and consistent in strength
- The process can be controlled precisely, and the arc can be manipulated to produce different shaped welds
- It produces less smoke and less sparks than other welding processes
- It is capable of welding at higher travel speeds
Disadvantages of Plasma Welding
There are some disadvantages to the use of plasma welding. These include the following:- It is more expensive than some other welding processes
- The equipment is complex and requires specialized skill to use safely and effectively
- It is difficult to weld some metals, such as aluminum
- It requires an inert gas, such as argon or nitrogen, to be used as a shielding gas in order to protect the weld from oxidation tensions
Conclusion
Plasma welding is an electric arc welding process that uses a high velocity ionized gas to make welds of consistently high quality, in addition to being able to weld harder and thicker materials than some other weld processes. While the process is more expensive than some other welding processes, and requires specialized equipment and skill to use, it does offer some advantages over more traditional welding processes.Citations URLs: www. asminternational.
org/documents/10192/6446799/020880. pdf www. twi-global. com/technical-knowledge/faqs/plasma-arc-welding-FAQs/