Effect of Welding Parameters on GTA Weld Shape for Pure Iron Plate under Ar-O2 Mixed Shielding

Weld shape variation for different welding parameters is investigated on pure iron plate under gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding with argon-oxygen mixed shielding. Results showed that small addition of oxygen to the argon base shielding gas can effectively adjust the oxygen adsorption to the molten pool. An inward Marangoni convection occurs on the pool surface when the oxygen content in the weld pool is over the critical value,80×10-6, for pure iron plate under Ar-0.3%O2 mixed shielding. Low oxygen content in the weld pool changes the inward Marangoni to an outward direction under the Ar-0.1%O2 shielding. The GTA weld shape depends to a large extent on the pattern and strength of the Marangoni convection on the pool surface, which is determined by the content of surface active element, oxygen, in the weld pool and the welding parameters.The strength of the Marangoni convection on the liquid pool is a product of the temperature coefficient of the surface tension (dσ/dT) and the temperature gradient (dT/dr) on the pool surface. Different welding parameters will change the temperature distribution and gradient on the pool surface, and therefore, affect the strength of Marangoni convection and the weld shape.