Water Repellent Coating for Welding Electrodes Based on Sol-Gel Technology

Silicone resin coatings prepared by the sol-gel method were applied on welding electrodes to protect them against water absorption during storage or transportation. The performance of the electrodes was tested by measuring the free and total water content of the weld. The total water content of the coated electrode was just slightly above the permitted level (<0.2%) due to the organic part of the silicone resins that decomposes during welding liberating a very small quantity of water.