Joining thicker components using conventional arc welding processes requires edge preparation and multiple passes for completely filling the root gap. Multiple passes not only increase the overall welding time but also increase the energy expenditure forcing the process to deviate from sustainable one.

Multiple arc-heating cycles are also associated with broader heat affected zone (HAZ), severely affected microstructural changes, undesired residual stresses, and higher distortion.

Activated TIG welding process is one variant of conventional TIG welding that can fetch deeper penetration in a single pass. A-TIG welding thus has the potential of reducing heating cycles for joining components thicker than 3.5 mm.

This article investigates the scope of reducing the heating cycles using silica (SiO2) based A-TIG welding for square-edge butt joining of 10 mm thick austenitic stainless-steel plates using similar grade filler rod under DCSP with argon as shielding gas.

Regardless of the restriction on accessibility of one face of the components, complete joining of 10 mm thick plates using only conventional TIG welding requires as much as five heating cycles. Application of A-TIG welding can complete the same task within just two heating cycles.

Therefore, A-TIG welding is not only a productive process for joining thicker plates but also a sustainable and energy efficient technique.

This article is shared by Bashab Chandra Paul , Suman Saha and Santanu Das from Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalyani Government Engineering College, West Bengal and Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal