Metal-arc active gas welding in the high power range with flux-cored wire electrodes

Studies were carried out into the suitability of flux-cored wire electrodes for welding at high wire feed speeds, using three different types of flux-cored filler wire. It is shown that flux-cored filler wires are in principle suitable for welding with a wire feed speed of 45 m/min. In contrast to solid wire electrodes, no transition to a rotating arc is detected in the high power range. The process stability of the flux-cored filler wires is greater than that of solid wires. Depending on the quantity and characteristics of the slag in the flux-cored filler wire, very different welding results are observed. The most favourable results are achieved with a basic flux-cored wire containing a slag proportion of approximately 8%.