Quality of weld seams produced with flux based on silicomanganese slag

Abstract

The use of metallurgical wastes in welding fluxes is considered. A new welding flux based on slag from silicomanganese production is proposed, along with the corresponding manufacturing technology. The quality of the weld seams is studied by metallographic analysis. The grain size and content of nonmetallic inclusions are determined. An Olympus GX-51 optical microscope is used for metallographic analysis (magnification ×100–1000). The influence of the fractional composition on the performance of the fluxes is studied. The optimal fraction is chosen, ensuring low content of nonmetallic inclusions (in particular, nondeforming silicates and oxides) in the weld seam. If 30–40% of the small fraction of welding flux is employed, the content of nonmetallic oxide inclusions in the weld seam is reduced. Metallographic analysis shows that introducing the small fraction has no effect on the structural components of the weld seam. The seam is characterized by ferrite–pearlite structure. The ferrite is present in the form of grains extended in the direction of heat transfer. The optimal content of the <0.45 mm fraction in the welding flux is 30–40%. To improve flux performance, the small fraction may be mixed with liquid glass. The use of ceramic flux produced from the dust of silicomanganese slag (<0.45 mm fraction) bound by liquid glass reduces the content of nonmetallic inclusions in the weld seam. However, increase in the content of liquid glass from 15 to 40% has little effect on the content of nonmetallic oxide inclusions in the weld seam or on the microstructure. The microstructure in the weld seam consists of pearlite and ferrite. The optimal flux consists of the small fraction with 15–20% liquid glass.