The keyhole TIG welding process: a valid alternative for valuable metal jointsPaper presented at the 4th National Welding Day, Workshop: “Developments and trends in traditional welding processes”, Genova, 25–26 October 2007.

Paper presented at the 4th National Welding Day, Workshop: “Developments and trends in traditional welding processes”, Genova, 25–26 October 2007.

Abstract

This article describes the physical principle of function and some examples of the application of the keyhole TIG (K-TIG) welding process.

Due to its specificity, this welding process has been shown to be valid for performing full penetration welds, even with a single pass, on various types of materials, particularly valuable materials: indeed, it is very well suited to being applied to such materials as austenitic stainless steel, titanium and its alloys, nickel alloys, the austeno-ferritic (duplex) steels, obviously in addition to the C–Mn steels.

This article describes the physical principle of functioning of K-TIG welding process, besides some examples of application in different working situations.

Such a welding process has proved itself to be suitable to execute Mel-nil-thickness welding of different kinds of metallic materials (also with a single pass). This welding process is particularly suited to be applied on the most valuable materials, like: inox stainless steel, titanium and its alloys, nickel alloys, duplex steel, C–Mn steels.

Keywords:

• current
• GTA welding
• influencing factors
• keyholing
• mathematical models
• mechanical properties
• microstructure
• process parameters
• stainless steels
• surface tension
• thermal conductivity
• titanium alloys

Notes

Paper presented at the 4th National Welding Day, Workshop: “Developments and trends in traditional welding processes”, Genova, 25–26 October 2007.