Not long ago, a key technical project for commercial applications of composite Tungsten electrodes, jointly undertaken by the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining& Metallurgy and Beijing University of Technology, under an initiative of the National 863 Program, passed a verification check.
The composite Tungsten electrodes derived from the project presents a high welding performance, and is a desirable substitute for thoriated Tungsten electrodes. Compared with thoriated Tungsten electrodes in the same specifications, the new electrode has a lower critical arc pressure, and a fine anti-burning capability, with a comprehensive performance better than the former. It is also an environment friendly product, causing no radiation pollution. There have been so far no reported commercial applications of the electrodes. The research team developed the manufacturing techniques for the new electrodes, based on the study of a range of key links in manufacturing the electrodes, including mixing, deoxidizing, and vertical melting, and readjustment of relevant parameters of the entire manufacturing process. The painstaking efforts have made the comprehensive pass rate of the new products surpass that of thoriated Tungsten electrodes in the same specifications, and thus reduced the cost of production. Electrode manufacturers have produced nearly a hundred bulks of the electrodes using the new technique, with a steady pass rate above 75%. Composite Tungsten electrodes produced from the project have been exported to Europe in bulk. A demonstration campaign has been launched in domestic markets, and in the markets of the United States, Japan, and Korea.
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