Submerged arc welding uses a flux layer to cover the area being welded, providing benefits such as reduced UV radiation and a higher quality weld. It can be done indoors or outdoors and is excellent for joining thin sheet metal quickly. However, it has limitations in the materials it can be used on and concerns about safety.
Submerged arc welding, often abbreviated SAW, is a specific and popular type of arc welding in which the area being fused and welded is covered by a blanket of flux. This provides welders with many benefits, from reducing UV radiation to providing a higher quality weld. Traditional arc welding uses an electric current to create an arc of electricity between an electrode and the metal being worked on. This electric arc melts and joins materials and electricity can be supplied by a direct current (DC) or an alternating current (AC).
The difference between traditional arc welding and submerged arc welding is the flux layer that covers the materials. Flux is a material that, when melted, creates a path through which the electric arc can travel. The arc travels from the electrode, through the flux, and to the material being welded. This method can also use a direct or alternating current.
The advantages of this type of welding are numerous. Because the weld is submerged, it prevents hot materials from splashing and splashing back. The flux also helps prevent the emission of high levels of UV radiation. Pressure is not needed to create the weld as the electric current does the work. Not only does it provide these advantages over other shapes, this type of weld is excellent for joining thin sheet metal quickly and creates a good fusion between materials.
This process can be done both indoors and outdoors wherever it is most convenient to place the equipment. To ensure that the flux remains in the correct position, the soldering must be done on a flat, horizontal surface; otherwise, the flux could move and cause a bad weld. When done correctly, submerged arc welding will produce good-looking, high-quality results.
However, this method has disadvantages. While it helps prevent splashes and radiation, the materials it can be used on are limited. Steel and stainless steel are the most common types that work with this type of weld, along with some nickel-based alloys. There is also some concern about stream safety, as potentially dangerous residues can be left behind.
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