Submerged Arc Welding Fluxes

Welding fluxes used in submerged arc welding have essentially the same functions to perform as the flux coating in arc welding electrodes. The flux influences the process physically and metallurgically. Physically it protects the deposited weld bead from atmospheric attacks, helps to form a bead of the right shape and prevents rapid cooling of the weld deposit. Metallurgically the fluxes, through their alloying elements, replace or add the elements lost through burning or volatalisation in the arc. The metallurgical conditions of the weld deposit are also influenced by the base plate as well as the wire used and hence it is necessary to correlate all the three factors.