Development of flux cored wires and their slag systems

Flux-cored wires possess a steadily increasing market share on electrodes for welding processes. The reason can be found in the simple application of these welding consumables in robotic and automated welding and the relatively low need for postprocessing of the welds. The latter is mainly due to the welding characteristics of the consumable, such as pore susceptibility, weld spatter or the appearing of the weld. These properties are determined by the nominal composition of the flux and the resulting slag composition. The aim of the project is to optimize the slag system and the coating of the wire in order to obtain best welding properties.