Observations of the phenomenon of abnormal arc voltage occurring in pulsed metal inert gas welding of aluminium alloy

Abstract

At the time of arc reignition after short circuiting during electrode positive polarity, cathode spots are newly formed in the centre of the weld pool surface, where oxides scarcely exist. The work function of the cathode surface increases and the cathode spots concentrate because of the lack of sufficient oxides, leading to an increase in the potential gradient across the cathode fall space and the adjoining contraction space. Consequently, the arc voltage becomes abnormally high in spite of the short arc length. Moreover, when electrode polarity is switched from positive to negative immediately after a droplet has detached from the wire tip, cathode spots are newly formed on the surface of the molten metal remaining at the wire tip, where little oxide exists, leading to an abnormal increase in arc voltage as well. Therefore, the change in arc voltage does not necessarily indicate a fluctuation in the arc length.