Arc welding electrode

• US 3,870,854 A
• Filed: 02/20/1974
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert Vandenbroucke
• Original Assignee: Gilbert Vandenbroucke
• Inventors: Vandenbroucke, Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Herkamp, N. B.
• Application Number:
  US05/444,057
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 117/202 148/31.5 219/145,146
• US Class Current: 219/145.23
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/0261 Rods, electrodes, wires
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/3601 with inorganic compounds as principal constituents
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/40 Making wire or rods for soldering or welding processes involving a single technical art, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B05D, B21C

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the provision of an elongated shielded arc welding electrode object of steel having a smooth and regular surface, the uncoated surface of which is not oxidized under normal atmospheric conditions in workshops, and therefore for example in atmospheric oxygen. This problem is solved by providing the electrode surface, by means of a thermal treatment, with a very thin and uniform covering layer containing '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'black'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' iron oxide (Fe3O4). A preferred shape of electrode is the round wire electrode, and consequently the subject of the invention is explained with reference to the treatments and welding performances of treated wires.

Claims

1. An arc welding electrode object of steel, characterized in that the elongated electrode member having a smooth surface comprises a uniform covering layer, at most 3 mu thick, containing Fe3O4.

2. An arc welding electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the covering layer is less than 1 mu.

3. A welding electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that the Fe3O4-content in the covering layer is at least 80% by weight.

4. A welding electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that the unevenness of the electrode surface does not exceed 3 mu.

5. The use of a welding electrode according to claim 1 in automatic or semi-automatic shielded arc welding processes.

6. The use of a welding electrode according to claim 5, characterized in that the protective gas consists at least partly of CO2.

7. An elongate steel arc welding electrode having a smooth surface and a uniform tightly adherent coating containing a major amount of Fe3O4 and a thickness no greater than about 3 mu.

8. An arc welding electrode as in claim 7 and wherein said coating has a thickness of less than 1 mu.

9. An arc welding electrode as in claim 7 and wherein said coating is at least 80% by weight Fe3O4.

10. An arc welding electrode as in claim 7 and wherein the unevenness of the surface of said coating is less than about 3 mu.

11. The improvement in an automatic or semi-automatic gas shielded arc welding process which comprises carrying out said process with an electrode of claim 7.