Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties
Economic welding of thick steel plates is an emerging challenge for various engineering applications. However, tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc welding, as an economic and widely used method, is not regarded as a suitable tool to weld thick steel plates due to the shallow penetration in a single-pass op...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/5052 |
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| author | Lingyue Zhang Anming Hu |
| author_facet | Lingyue Zhang Anming Hu |
| author_sort | Lingyue Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Economic welding of thick steel plates is an emerging challenge for various engineering applications. However, tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc welding, as an economic and widely used method, is not regarded as a suitable tool to weld thick steel plates due to the shallow penetration in a single-pass operation. In this technical progress, the joining of austenitic high manganese steel of 8 mm thickness was successfully performed using nanowire flux activated TIG welding with a full penetration and a narrow bead geometry. Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanowire was used as flux and compared with microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux. Experimental results showed that with nanowire fluxes, the welding yielded the maximum of more than 8 mm thick penetration (full penetration and melt over the plate) with proper operating parameters in a single pass. In sharp contrast, the penetration is only less than 4 mm for a single pass welding without Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux with the similar parameters. Arc voltage—time variation during welding process was analyzed and the angular distortion was measured after welding to understand the activating effect of optimized flux mixture. Compared to welding joint without flux and with microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux, nanoscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux has a larger arc voltage and higher energy efficiency, higher joint strength and less angular distortion. The developed joint with nanowire flux qualified the tensile test with tensile strength of 700.7 MPa (82.38% of base material strength) and 34.1% elongation. This work may pave a way for nanotechnology-enabling welding innovation for engineering application. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:54:10Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:54:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-eef6db1e34374e67a354474078e2aad32023-11-21T22:02:28ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-05-011111505210.3390/app11115052Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical PropertiesLingyue Zhang0Anming Hu1Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 1152 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA578 Violet Street, Waterloo, ON N2V 2V6, CanadaEconomic welding of thick steel plates is an emerging challenge for various engineering applications. However, tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc welding, as an economic and widely used method, is not regarded as a suitable tool to weld thick steel plates due to the shallow penetration in a single-pass operation. In this technical progress, the joining of austenitic high manganese steel of 8 mm thickness was successfully performed using nanowire flux activated TIG welding with a full penetration and a narrow bead geometry. Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanowire was used as flux and compared with microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux. Experimental results showed that with nanowire fluxes, the welding yielded the maximum of more than 8 mm thick penetration (full penetration and melt over the plate) with proper operating parameters in a single pass. In sharp contrast, the penetration is only less than 4 mm for a single pass welding without Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux with the similar parameters. Arc voltage—time variation during welding process was analyzed and the angular distortion was measured after welding to understand the activating effect of optimized flux mixture. Compared to welding joint without flux and with microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux, nanoscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> flux has a larger arc voltage and higher energy efficiency, higher joint strength and less angular distortion. The developed joint with nanowire flux qualified the tensile test with tensile strength of 700.7 MPa (82.38% of base material strength) and 34.1% elongation. This work may pave a way for nanotechnology-enabling welding innovation for engineering application.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/5052nanoscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>A-TIG weldingactivating fluxpenetration |
| spellingShingle | Lingyue Zhang Anming Hu Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties Applied Sciences nanoscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> A-TIG welding activating flux penetration |
| title | Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties |
| title_full | Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties |
| title_fullStr | Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties |
| title_short | Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanowire Flux Enabling Tungsten Inert Gas Welding of High-Manganese Steel Thick Plates with Improved Mechanical Properties |
| title_sort | fe sub 2 sub o sub 3 sub nanowire flux enabling tungsten inert gas welding of high manganese steel thick plates with improved mechanical properties |
| topic | nanoscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> microscale Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> A-TIG welding activating flux penetration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/11/5052 |
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