Study of Depth to Width Ratio Weld from Argon Arc Tungsten Gas Welding using Different Activation Fluxes
Keywords:
gas tungsten arc welding, activated fluxes, titanium peroxide, manganese peroxide, zinc oxideAbstract
This study investigated activated tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding using three different activating fluxes: titanium peroxide (TiO₂), manganese peroxide (MnO₂), and zinc oxide (ZnO). A total of twenty-two experimental conditions were designed, including single-, binary-, and ternary-flux mixtures with varying proportions. Each flux was mixed with acetone to form a paste and uniformly applied to the surface of the workpiece prior to welding. All welding trials were conducted under identical TIG welding parameters. The weld bead geometry, including penetration depth, bead width, and the depth-to-width (D/W) ratio, was measured and compared with conventional TIG welding performed without activating flux. The results demonstrated that both the type of activating flux and the mixture proportions significantly influenced weld penetration, bead width, and the D/W ratio. The application of a binary mixture consisting of 75% manganese peroxide and 25% zinc oxide produced the highest D/W ratio of 0.745. In contrast, conventional TIG welding without activating flux yielded a D/W ratio of 0.495. This represents an approximately 50.5% increase in the D/W ratio compared with the flux-free condition.
References
Ahmadi, E., Ebrahimi, A. R., & Khosroshahi, R. A. (2013). Welding of 304L stainless steel with Activated Tungsten Inert Gas Process (A-TIG). International Journal of ISSI, 10(1), 27-33. https://journal.issiran.com/article_6557.html
Chauhan, R., Bhayani, J., & Borad, M. (2022). Effect of various fluxes on different metals and alloys in A-TIG Process: A review. Journal Kejuruteraan, 34(4), 543–553. https://doi.org/10.17576/jkukm-2022-34(4)-02
Choudhary, S., & Duhan, R. (2015). Effect of activated flux on properties of SS 304 using TIG welding. International Journal of Engineering (IJE), Transactions B: Applications, 28(2), 290–295. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.ije.2015.28.02b.16
Huang, H.Y., Shyu, S.W., & Chou, C. P. (2005). Evaluation of TIG flux welding on the characteristics of stainless steel. Science Technology Welding Join, 10(5), 566–573. https://doi.org/10.1179/174329305X48329
Kaewsuriwong, K., Meesanthia, P., Sornwongkaew, U., Aumpiem, A., Lumpapiwat, S., & Wattanathum, W. (2024). The study of the effect of O2 contamination on discoloration at root pass welding of titanium grade 2 pipe ASTM B 861 using gas tungsten arc welding [In Thai]. The Journal of Industrial Technology, 20(2), 152–164. https//doi.org/10.14416/j.ind.tech.2024.08.011
Kannan, P. R., Madesh, S., Ganesan, A. T., & Prasannakumari, R. S. (2024). Study on effect of nickel molybdenum coated filler in gas tungsten arc welding [In Thai]. Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 51(2), e2024024. https://doi.org/10.12982/CMJS.2024.024
Kumar, K. V., Ramanaiah, N., & Rao, N. M. (2021). Effect of TiO2, Fe2O3, and duplex of TiO2 and Fe2O3 fluxes on microstructural, mechanical properties and weld morphology of A-TIG AH 36 marine-grade steel weldments. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 69(12), 218–228. https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V69I12P226
Lin, H. L., & Wu, T. M. (2012). Effects of activating flux on weld bead geometry of inconel 718 alloy TIG welds. Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 27(2), 1457–1461. https://doi.org/10.1080/10426914.2012.677914
Lugade, P. S., & Deshmukh, M. J. (2015). Optimization of process parameters of activated tungsten inert gas (A-TIG) welding for stainless steel 304L using taguchi method. International Journal of Engineering Research and General Science, 3(3), 854-860. https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-8695/acb526
Malik, Q. H. (2021). Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or (TIG) welding [Research report]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353430058
Pavan, A. R., Chandrasekar, N., Arivazhagan, B., Kumar, S., & Vasudevan, M. (2022). Study of arc characteristics using varying shielding gas and optimization of activated-tig welding technique for thick AISI 316L(N) plates. CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, 35, 675-690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirpj.2021.08.013
Rodjanakid, K., & Yutan, M. (2025). The study of mechanical characteristics and metallurgical of metal welding dissimilar between A335 P11 and A312 TP304 stainless steels by using GTAW [In Thai]. Journal of Engineering and Innovation, 18(1), 50-62. https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/eng_ubu/article/view/253455/171937
Sardrouda, R. A., Mostafapoura, A., & Mohtadi-Bonabb, M. A. (2022). Effect of active flux on aluminum 6061 and its mechanical properties by gas tungsten arc welding process. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions B: Applications, 35(8), 1501-1508. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2022.35.08b.06
Sresracoo, P., & Sriboonchandr, P. (2019). Guidelines for solving defects in welding work [In Thai]. Journal of Thonburi University (Science and Technology), 3(2), 11-18. https://www.thonburi-u.ac.th/Journal_SIT/Vol3_No2_2.pdf
Sridhar, S.P., Kumar, S.A., & Sathiya, P. (2016). A study on the effect of different activating flux on A-TIG welding process of incoloy 800H. Advances in Materials Science, 16(3), 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1515/adms-2016-0014
Tseng, K.H. (2013). Development and application of oxide-based flux powder for tungsten inert gas welding of austenitic stainless steels. Powder Technology, 233(3), 72–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2012.08.038
