Electroslag welding uses an electric current passed between an electrode and workpiece, with a liquefied slag conducting the current. It is used to join thick steel plates and was patented in 1940 by Robert K Hopkins. The process was refined at the Paton Institute in the USSR and first introduced at the Brussels Fair in 1950.
Electroslag welding is a non-arc welding process that uses an electric current passed between a consumable electrode and a workpiece. When this welding method is performed, a liquefied slag covering the weld surface conducts the electric current. Before electroslag welding begins, a welding flux is used to fill the space between the workpieces and an electric arc is used to generate the heat needed to melt the flux and form the slag. During this type of welding, the slag remains in a molten state from the heat of the electric current.
Electroslag welding is often used to join thick steel plates together. This welding method is typically done by placing two water-cooled copper retainers on each side of the workpieces to form a vacuum for the molten stream. The filler wire, used as an electrode, is added to the vacuum along with a small amount of welding flux. An electric arc is generated to initiate the melting process and additional amounts of flux are added until the molten slag fills the void and extinguishes the arc. The filler wire melts into the liquefied slag and forms the weld as it solidifies; the process continues with the retainers and filler wire moving up until the end of the weld.
Sometimes a variant of the typical electroslag welding process is used to shorten the working time. In this variation, the welding process is conducted in the typical manner, except that the filler wire is fed into the molten pool via a consumable tube. This tube is placed at the top of the weld and feeds the wire into the molten stream in an oscillating fashion for wider joints. In this variation, two sets of water-cooled copper retainers are used so that they can be moved by jumping over each other. This variation is especially useful when the welding process is done in an upright position.
Robert K Hopkins patented the electroslag welding process in the United States in 1940. This welding method was further refined at the Paton Institute in the USSR in the 1940s. The refined Paton method of electroslag welding was first introduced at the Brussels Fair in 1950 and began to be used by US automaker General Motors to manufacture engine blocks in 1958. The Bank of America skyscraper in San Francisco was built using the electroslag welding method.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
