A review on high-frequency pulsed arc welding

Abstract The modification of welding current waveform according to practical conditions and requirements, is an important way to improve the welding quality of various metals, especially the application of high-frequency pulsed current in arc welding. In this paper, the research activities and progress to date in the application of high-frequency (usually more than 5 kHz) pulsed current in arc welding are reviewed in detail, mainly including four significant categories of output current waveforms and their performance characteristics and weld quality: high-frequency pulsed current waveform, high-frequency pulsed variable polarity current waveform, double-pulsed current waveform and inter-pulse GTAW welding adopting SiC-based power devices. In conclusion, in the fusion welding process, the introduction of high-frequency pulsed current is beneficial to the constriction of welding arc, the increase of weld penetration depth, the reduction of weld porosity, the refinement of the microstructure in weld zone and the enhancement of weld mechanical properties. And in the future, the advanced SiC-based power devices is going to replace the present Si-based power devices and bring about a profound change to the welding processes.