DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SERIAL PLASMA-MIG HYBRID PROCESS POTENTIALIZED BY THE HIGH PENETRATION MIG / MAG
Hybrid Welding; High penetration; burried arc; high productivity; SuperMIG; interaction between arcs
The search for new technologies related to welding processes with the prerogative of adding the concept of better efficiency allowed the rising alternate procedures from those considered “conventional”. In instance, high penetration GMAW welding is possible, in which it is possible to work with low electric arc lengths and high currents, resulting among other factors, increased penetration. Another example is the hybrid processes, characterized by the union of at least two procedures in a single one, in order to provide results that would not be possible taking them individually. Based on this theme, the objective of this work was to investigate the Plasma-MIG hybrid process in its serial version, using high penetration GMAW, in order to collect technological knowledge about the process, verify potentialities and limitations and thus, giving subsidies for advances in its study/development and boosting its industrial applicability. Critical aspects to be approached are the operational parameterization ranges and the study of the phenomena resulted from hybridization on the melting pool and the formation of the string. Additionally, the application of the Plasma-MIG serial was evaluated in ½" welding joints. As a way of validating these experiments, was used, high speed filming, evaluation of the cross sections of the weld beads, as well as the interpretation of current vs voltage oscilograms and the non - destructive X - ray test were used. The results obtained in this work indicate that the Plasma-MIG serial hybrid process (applying along the High Penetration MIG/MAG), potentially achieves results superior to those achieved only with the high penetration MIG/MAG process, regarding the morphology of the bead. However, the large amount of liquid material in the melting pool, limits the process with the use of some backing material.