Element Transfer Investigations on Silica Based Submerged Arc Welding Fluxes

By using laboratory developed agglomerated basic fluxes a study has been carried out to predict the element transfer across the series of bead on plate weld deposits in submerged arc welding process (SAW). With the application of mathematical experiments of mixture design approach different statistical model were developed in terms of flux constituents. Using twenty one basic submerged arc welding fluxes a series of bead on plate weld deposits were made at constant welding parameters. Twenty one submerged arc welding fluxes were prepared as per mixture design approach for CaF2-SiO2-CaO & SiO2-CaF2-Al2O3 flux system. Results indicates that there was predominant effect on weld metal carbon, silicon, manganese, sulphur, phosphorous, molybdenum and chromium contents. The weld bead carbon content for all the fluxes has been increased while it is lower than that of base metal. Individual flux ingredients CaO, SiO2, CaF2 and Al2O3 incresars the delta carbon content and shows synergistic effect on it while binary mixture interations such as CaO.SiO2, CaO.CaF2, CaO.Al2O3, SiO2.CaF2 and CaF2.Al2O3 gives the negative effect on delta carbon content.