Effect of Flux in Submerged Arc Welding- A Review

Submerged arc fluxes play a very complex role during the welding process. Besides protecting the weld pool and influencing the bead geometry, fluxes also melt in a specific temperature range, refine the weld metal, as well as take part in slag metal reaction before finally being removed as slag. Welding flux constitutes nearly half of the cost in SAW process. Over the years, development of better welding flux compositions in terms of mechanical properties and productivity, which are economically cost effective too, has caught the eye of many researchers. In the present review paper, research work carried out by various researchers in the field of welding flux development has been reviewed.