Standards: ISO 6848 ANSI/AWS A5.12/A5.A2M-98
Size:
Diameter: 0.5-25mm
Length: 150mm, 175mm, 178mm, any length requested from customer.
Recommended Tungsten Electrodes for Various Welding Currents:
Diameter of Electrode | DC(A) | AC(A) | |||
in | mm | Straight Polarity(-) | Reverse Polarity(+) | Unbalanced Waves | Balanced Waves |
0.04" | 1.0 | 15-80 | 10-80 | 20-60 | |
1/16" | 1.6 | 60-150 | 10-18 | 50-120 | 40-100 |
0.079" | 2.0 | 100-200 | 12-20 | 70-160 | 60-130 |
3/32" | 2.4 | 150-250 | 15-25 | 80-200 | 80-150 |
1/8" | 3.2 | 220-350 | 20-35 | 150-270 | 120-200 |
5/32" | 4.0 | 350-500 | 35-50 | 220-350 | 170-260 |
3/16" | 4.8 | 420-650 | 45-65 | 240-420 | 220-340 |
1/4" | 6.4 | 600-900 | 65-100 | 360-560 | 250-450 |
Thoriated Tungsten is the most commonly used tungsten in America and some other countries and is a good general use tungsten. Especially, it performs well when overloaded with extra amperage. However,since it is a low-level radioactive hazard many users have switched to other alternatives.
This tungsten is used primarily for DC welding of carbon & stainless steels, nickel alloys and titanium,etc.
Designation | Oxide Additive | Impurities Content% | Tungsten Content% | Color Sign | |
Category | Content% | ||||
WT10 | ThO2 | 0.80-1.2 | <0.20 | balance | yellow |
WT20 | ThO2 | 1.70-2.20 | <0.20 | balance | red |
WT30 | ThO2 | 2.80-3.20 | <0.20 | balance | purple |
WT40 | ThO2 | 3.80-4.20 | <0.20 | balance | orange |
Ceriated Tungsten is a non-radioactive material. It is known to be especially good for DC welding with low amperage because it starts very easily at low amps and usually requires about 10% less amps to operate than thoriated material. It is very popular to be used for the welding of orbital tube, pipe, very small parts, short welding cycles and also where a specific number of welds are called and then the electrode is to be replaced.
Designation | Oxide Additive | Impurities Content% | Tungsten Content% | Color Sign | |
Category | Content% | ||||
WC20 | CeO2 | 1.8-2.2 | <0.20 | balance | Grey |
Lanthanated Tungsten is a non-radioactive material with good welding performance. Its electric conductivity is most closed to that of 2% Thoriated Tungsten. Welders can easily replace Thoriated Tungsten Electrodes with Lanthanated without any changes of welding program. In Europe and Japan, Lathanated Tungsten has been the most popular alternative to 2% Thoriated Tungsten for most applications.
This tungsten is used primarily for DC welding but will also show good results for AC welding.
Designation | Oxide Additive | Impurities Content% | Tungsten Content% | Color Sign | |
Category | Content% | ||||
WL10 | La2O3 | 0.8-1.2 | <0.20 | balance | black |
WL15 | La2O3 | 1.3-1.7 | <0.20 | balance | golden yellow |
WL20 | La2O3 | 1.8--2.2 | <0.20 | balance | sky blue |
Zirconiated Tungsten has good performance in AC welding. It balls up well in AC welding and has a more stable arc than pure tungsten. Especially with excellent performance in high load AC welding, it is not replacable by any other electrodes. It also resists contamination well in AC welding.
Zirconiated Tungsten is most commonly used for AC welding of aluminum and magnesium alloys.
Designation | Oxide Additive | Impurities Content% | Tungsten Content% | Color Sign | |
Category | Content% | ||||
WZ3 | ZrO2 | 0.2-0.4 | <0.20 | balance | brown |
WZ8 | ZrO2 | 0.7-0.9 | <0.20 | balance | white |
Pure Tungsten , the least expensive of all tungsten electrodes, is generally used in the AC welding of aluminum and magnesium alloys
Yttriated Tungsten is primarily used in military and aviation industry with narrow arc beam,high compressing strength,highest welding penetration at medium and high current.
The performances of Composite Electrodes in welding can be much improved by adding two or more rare earth oxides which are mutually completementary.
Type of Electrode | Designation | Oxide Additive | Impurities Content% | Tungsten Content% | Color Sign | |
Category | Content% | |||||
Pure Tungsten Electrodes | WP | -- | -- | <0.20 | balance | green |
Yttriated Tungsten Electrodes | WY20 | Y2O3 | 1.8-2.2 | <0.20 | balance | blue |
Composite Electrodes | -- | -- | 1.5-3.0 | <0.20 | balance | -- |