Effect of Activated TIG Flux on Performance of Dissimilar Welds between Mild Steel and Stainless Steel

The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect of oxide fluxes on surface appearance, weld morphology, angular distortion, and weld defect obtained with activated tungsten inert gas (TIG) process applied to the welding of 6 mm thick dissimilar metal plates between JIS G3131mild steel and SUS 316L stainless steel. The CaO, Fe2O3, Cr2O3, and SiO2 fluxes used were packed in powdered form. The results indicated that the surface appearance of TIG welds produced with oxide flux formed residual slag. TIG welding with SiO2 powder can increase joint penetration and weld depth-to-width ratio, and therefore the angular distortion of the dissimilar weldment can be reduced. Furthermore, the defects susceptibility of the as-welded can also be reduced.