Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)

Type of technology

Joining techniques

Development phase

advanced

Level of innovation

enterprise level

Scale of production

mass

Technology readiness level TRL

Description of the technology

Purpose of use

joining various materials

Use in industry

aviation industry, marine industry, energy industry, electronics

General characteristics

Submerged arc welding (SAW) is a joining process in which an electric arc is created between a continuously fed electrode and the workpiece to be welded. The powdered flux surrounds and coats the arc and, once molten, provides electrical conductivity between the metal being joined and the electrode. It also produces a protective gas shield and slag to protect the weld area.

Alternative technologies

Visualisation

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • high process efficiency
  • high-quality welds
  • high welding speed
  • smooth weld surface

Disadvantages

  • necessity of additional operation (flux drying)
  • high cost of the welding machine
  • no possibility of observing the welding process

Workpiece material types

  • carbon steels
  • alloy steels
  • nickel alloys

Examples of products

  • large steel structures
  • pressure tanks

Implementation of technology

Required resources

  • expensive welding equipment

Required competences

  • welding certificates

Environmental aspects

Water consumption

Energy consumption

Waste generated

Expert evaluation

Competitiveness

Usability

Environmental impact

Development centers

  • AGH University of Krakow
  • Opole University of Technology
  • Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of Polish Academy of Sciences
  • Warsaw University of Technology
  • Cracow University of Technology

Legal conditions

  • none

Companies using technology

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