Investigation of the effect of welding parameters on weld quality of plasma arc keyhole welding of structural steels

Abstract

In the present investigation, the individual and interactive effects of the main welding parameters on weld quality of plasma arc keyhole welding of conventional structural steel, high strength microalloyed steel and strong formable microalloyed steel have been examined using welding of butt joints with a square groove in various welding positions, and welding of joint roots with a single-V-groove and the root face in the flat position. The most important welding parameters are welding current, welding speed and welding gases, especially plasma gas flow rate. Welding parameter combinations producing the best quality welds are presented. It is shown that it is possible to achieve defect-free high-quality welds with good strength and toughness properties, but the allowable range of variation of welding parameters, especially for the highest weld quality, is narrow. An argonhydrogen mixture for the plasma gas together with argon as shielding and backing gases give the best results with respect to weld quality.