Development of new welding consumables for wet underwater welding of high-alloy corrosion-resistant steel
The paper describes the technology for mechanized wet underwater welding of high-alloy corrosion-resistant steel. The main purpose of the research is development of the pioneering self-shielding flux-cored wire for wet underwater welding. Quantity and quality characteristics were determined by using the mathematical experimental design method. Quantity and quality welding-technological characteristics, such as gas saturation of the weld metal, stability of the arc burning process in water enof the flux-cored wire charge, were specified. Application of the experimental self-shielding wire for mechanized wet underwater welding of high-alloy corrosion-resistant steel will make it possible to increase productivity and improve quality of underwater welding-repair operations, and receive an economic effect due to reduction of downtime in production cycle of an object being repaired. Application of this technology will allow a partial or even complete absence of participation of humans in the welding process performed under extreme conditions in radioactive environment (in case of nuclear power plants) and in welding in deep waters. The research results can be used for welding-repair operations at nuclear power plants, ship-repair and ship-raising operations, and at hydraulic facilities. The proposed innovation technology makes it possible to fully replace the wet underwater covered-electrode welding technology.