Element transfer, microhardness and metallurgical analysis of weld-bead using CaF2 - CaO - Al2O3 - BaO fluxes

This study investigates the influence of shielded metal arc welding electrode coating flux on microhardness, microstructure and element transfer. A series of multi-pass bead-on-plate studies were conducted using laboratory-developed electrodes. The flux composition has shown a significant effect on all the responses. An increase in Al2O3 and BaO has shown a positive influence on nickel transfer, whereas an increase in CaO reduces nickel transfer. The slag detachability was found good for ratio CaF2:CaO:Al2O3