In this blog post, we will give a brief overview of Plasma arc welding (PAW), its advantages, disadvantages, and applications. By the end of this post, you should have a good understanding of what PAW is and how it works.
What is Plasma Arc Welding?
Plasma arc welding (PAW) is a welding process that uses an electric arc to create a plasma arc. The arc is created between the electrode and the workpiece. The plasma is then forced through a fine-bore copper nozzle which constricts the arc and the plasma exits the orifice at high velocities (approaching the speed of sound) and a temperature approaching 28,000 °C (50,000 °F) or higher.
How Plasma Arc Welding works?
In order to understand how Plasma arc welding (PAW) works, it is first necessary to understand what plasma is? Plasma is a temporary state of a gas. The gas gets ionized by electric current passing through it and it becomes a conductor of electricity. In ionized state, atoms are broken down into ions and electrons which are free to move around.
When an electric current flows through the plasma, electrons are accelerated by the electrical field and collide with ions in the gas. This collision knocks more electrons out of atoms, which in turn creates more plasma. The result is a self-sustaining arc discharge in which electrons flow from the cathode to the anode through the plasma.
The key difference between PAW and GTAW is that in PAW, the electrode is positioned within the body of the torch, so the plasma arc is separated from the shielding gas envelope. This allows for higher welding speeds and greater efficiency than GTAW.
Advantages of Plasma Arc Welding (PAW):
There are several advantages of PAW over other welding processes:
1. High welding speeds – up to 10 times faster than traditional welding processes
2. Efficiency – up to 95% efficient due to little heat loss
3. Flexibility – can be used on a variety of materials including metals, plastics, and glass
4. Precision – can be used to weld small areas with great accuracy
Disadvantages of Plasma Arc Welding (PAW):
While there are many advantages to using PAW, there are also some disadvantages:
1. Expensive: requires special equipment that can be costly
2. Complexity
3. Operation is bit noisy
4. Difficult to master due to complex process
5. Dangerous – high temperatures and UV radiation can be harmful if proper safety precautions are not taken
Applications of Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)?
PAW has a wide range of applications due its flexibility and precision. Some common applications include:
1. Widely used in Automotive industry, Aerospace industry, Petrochemical industry & Marine Industry
2. This is used to weld pipes and tubes of stainless steel & titanium
3. Used in electronic Industry
4. Used to repair tools, die and mold
Conclusion:
Plasma arc welding is a versatile and precise welding process that has many applications in various industries. While it has some disadvantages, its advantages far outweigh them. If you are in need of a welding process for your next project, consider using PAW.