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WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES

OF POROSITY IN SA (SUBMERGED
ARC) WELDS?

  

Frequently Asked Questions

Porosity is a fairly common defect which can be in uenced by many factors. Sometimes it is
clearly visible as pinholes in the weld surface, at other times it is below the surface and is
revealed only by X-ray examination or ultrasonic testing. Unless it is gross or preferentially
aligned, porosity is unlikely to be harmful.

Common causes of porosity are:

1. Contamination of joint surfaces with oil, paint, grease, hydrated oxides, etc. These
decompose in the arc to give gaseous products which can cause elongated
'wormhole' porosity often located along the centreline of the weld.

2. Damp ux: ux should be kept dry. It is good practice to dry all uxes before use
and store them in a heated hopper. The manufacturer's recommendations
regarding drying temperatures should be observed. Note that if a ux recovery
 unit, driven by compressed air, is used the compressed air should be dried
thoroughly.

3. Insu cient ux burden can expose the arc and molten weld pool to atmospheric
contamination.

The surface of a weld may sometimes contain small depressions known as surface pocking or

gas ats. These are harmless and while the exact cause is not fully understood it is linked to

conditions which cause generation of gas or make it di cult for gas to escape; for example,

moisture or lack of deoxidants and too many nes in the ux to allow gas to pass readily.

For more information please email:

contactus@twi.co.uk

Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK

+44(0)1223 899000

contactus@twi.co.uk
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