SAF-OERLIKON MALAYSIA SDN.

BHD
No. 10, Jalan TPP 5/1, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

To Whom it may concern.

Kuala Lumpur, December 14th, 2018

OERLIKON HANDLING RECOMMENDATION FOR OP121TT DRYBAG Agglomerated flux :

To limit hydrogen-cracking risk, diffusible hydrogen level must be low. To keep hydrogen diffusible as original level
at flux manufacturing step some precaution must be done because agglomerated fluxes are sensitive to humidity.
Flux moisture pickup can take place during transportation in original package or in not adapted store and
during unprotected exposure while in use. To reduce the risk of flux moisture pickup the right packaging, the
good storage conditions, and required handling procedures must be given.
Dry bag packaging with aluminium foil is the right choice because of very low permeability.

 Dry bag permeability is less 0.005 g / m2.24h

 Plastic packaging permeability is around 0.2 g / m2.24h (proportional to thickness)

About long distance Transportation

With Drybag packaging there is no risk of moisture pick up during long distance transportation by container ship
until the packaging is not damaged by handling. Original Hydrogen diffusible value with Damaged packaging
are not guaranteed
There is no guarantee with plastic bag and flux shall be dried before use to suppress hydrogen cracking risk

About recommended storage conditions

Drybag doesn’t require any investment in air climate room and therefore can be stored in a place without
temperature and relative humidity controlled if the following conditions are respected:
-The selected place must be protected against wind, dust, rain, excessive heat.
-These consumables must be placed on a pallet away from the ground at all times.
-These consumables should not be used in case of accidental damage (forklifts, rain storms etc).
Only flux in damaged bags shall be re-dried before use. Original Hydrogen diffusible value with Damaged
packaging are not guaranteed

For paper or plastic bag storerooms must be absolute moisture controlled to minimize moisture pick up. Dry
warehouses or stock rooms are ideal conditions for long term storage. Maintain a maximum ambient condition of 10
grams of moisture per kilogram of dry air could be enough to limit agglomerated fluxes moisture pickup. This value
could be achieved with different relative moisture and temperature condition as describe in the next table.

www.lincolnelectric.com
 2

About Welding operation

After flux is put into use, recommendations to control moisture pickup and limit cold cracking risk are mandatory.
Because of the variable moisture absorption rates of fluxes, it’s mandatory to give recommendations for exposure
limitations, especially for critical applications. In case of exceeded exposure limitations, flux must be dried to
remove moisture. Holding ovens could be necessary to maintain moisture control for short term storage near the
welding point.

Diffusible hydrogen measurement have been done with OP121TT flux in combination with a Oerlikon copper
coated solid wire after exposure to a “Wet” climate (80% RH 30°C) equivalent to 22g moisture / kg dry air. In wet
climate, all agglomerated fluxes shall be redried after a short time exposure.

In our lab, the threshold value 6ml/100g of hydrogen diffusible is obtained after 4h of exposure to 22g moisture / kg
dry air, then the flux shall be re-dried at minimum 350°C during 1h mini to remove moisture.
- At 0h of exposure we have obtained 3.8ml/100g of hydrogen diffusible.
- After 8h of exposure to 22g moisture/kg dry air, we have obtained 7.9ml/100g of hydrogen diffusible.
- After 24h of exposure to 22g moisture/kg dry air, we have obtained 9.6ml/100g of hydrogen diffusible.
- After 72h of exposure to 22g moisture/kg dry air, we have obtained 12.5ml/100g of hydrogen diffusible.

www.lincolnelectric.com
 3

15
Diffusible hydrogen (ml/100g deposited metal)

10

6
5

OP121TT
RH 80%
Temp. 30°C

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80
Exposure time (h)

The above curve can be used with all the range of Oerlikon solid wires compatible with OP121TT flux:
OES2, OESD3, OESD3 1Ni 1/4Mo, OESD3NiMo1, OES2Mo, OESD3Mo, OESD3 2.5Ni 1/2Cr 1/2Mo.

After bag opening the flux shall be kept at temperature higher than 120°C and care should be taken to see
that welding operation like reclaiming/recycling does not put moisture in flux.
Flux exposed for prolonged period at high moisture conditions or condensation should be redried at 350-
450°C to remove moisture. Higher drying temperature is not recommended because of flux damage risk. Time
duration for drying shall be 1 hour mini and adapted to oven design and size.

www.lincolnelectric.com
 4

Curve Hydrogen level in ml/100g of deposited metal-Humidity level in flux (% of H2O):

1. Initial hydrogen test is carried out after opening the bag.

2. Initial humidity level in the flux is measured (moisture test) after opening the bag.
3. A bed of flux will be introduced in the climatic testing chamber.
4. Evaluation of the Hydrogen level immediately after exposure according to ISO 3690 or AWS A4.3.
5. Evaluation of the humidity level in the flux immediately after exposure. (Quantitative analyses can be
performed with LECO RC412 to distinguish free and crystalline moisture in flux. The ramping test from
120°C to 980°C are done with 4 grams sample weight under oxygen atmosphere).

15.0
Diffusible hydrogen (ml/100g
deposited metal)

10.0

OP121TT
5.0 RH 80%
Temp. 30°C

0.0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Moisture in the flux 980°C (%)

About OP121TT

OP 121TT has been designed to have an hydrogen content lower than 4ml at packing and Limited moisture pick up
kinetic.

Jean-Francois Tison
Welding Engineer
Oerlikon
South-east Asia & Pacific

www.lincolnelectric.com
 5

www.lincolnelectric.com