Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

Plasma Arc Welding (PAW) is an arc welding process; an entire plasma arc is produced and directed toward the weld area. The arc is stable and reaches temperatures as high as 33,000°C. A plasma is a scorching ionized gas composed of nearly the same number of electrons and ions. The plasma starts between the tungsten electrode and the orifice by a low-current pilot arc. What makes plasma-arc welding unlike other processes is that the plasma arc is concentrated because it is forced through a relatively small orifice. Operating currents usually are less than 100 A. When filler metal is used, it is fed into the arc-like Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Arc and weld-zone shielding are supplied using an outer shielding ring and inert gases like argon, helium, or mixtures.

There are two methods of plasma arc welding:

1. In the transferred-arc method of plasma-arc welding(on the left side), the welded workpiece is part of the electrical circuit. The arc transfers from the electrode to the workpiece, hence the term "transferred."
2. In the non-transferred arc method of plasma-arc welding(on the right side), the arc occurs between the electrode and the nozzle, and the plasma gas carries heat to the workpiece. This thermal transfer mechanism is similar to that of an oxy-fuel flame.

Two methods of plasma-arc welding processes are (a) transferred and (b) non-transferred

Compared to other arc welding processes, the Plasma Arc Welding process has better arc stability, less thermal distortion, and higher energy concentration, thus permitting deeper and narrower welds. PAW has higher welding speed ranges from 120 mm/min to 1000 mm/min. Various metals can be welded with part thicknesses less than 6 mm.

The high heat concentration can penetrate the joint entirely, with thicknesses of 20 mm for some titanium and aluminum alloys. In the keyhole technique, the force of the plasma arc displaces the molten metal and produces a hole at the leading edge of the weld pool. Plasma arc welding is often used rather than Gas Tungsten Arc welding for butt and lap joints because of its higher energy concentration, better arc stability, and higher welding speed. Proper training and skills are required for the operator who works on this equipment.