Thoriated Tungsten vs Lanthanated

There is a wide range of gas tungsten electrodes welding utilized in the industry. Such application utilizes orbital welders and other robotized gas tungsten circular segment welding, and tungsten electrodes with specific terminals attributes are used. Mainly used tungsten electrodes are thoriated tungsten electrodes and 2% lanthanated electrodes. Here is the basic information about both electrodes.

Thoriated VS Lanthanated Tungsten Electrodes

Thoriated Tungsten Electrode

Thoriated tungsten electrodes (AWS order EWTh-2) are made with 97.30 percent tungsten and approximately 2 percent thorium and are called 2% thoriated. They are the most ordinarily utilized anodes today and are liked for their life span and usability. Thorium builds the electron discharge characteristics of the cathode, which further develops the curve begins and considers a higher current-conveying limit. This anode works far underneath its liquefying temperature, which results in a significantly lower pace of utilization and disposes of curve meandering for more noteworthy security. Contrasted and different anodes, thoriated terminals store less tungsten into the weld puddle, so they cause less weld pollution. 

These terminals are utilized predominantly for the claim to fame AC welding (for example, slim measure aluminum and material under 0.060 inches) and DC welding, either anode negative or straight extremity, on carbon steel, hardened steel, nickel, and titanium. 

During assembling, thorium is equally scattered all through the cathode, which assists the tungsten with keeping up with its honed edge—the ideal terminal shape for slender welding steel—after crushing. Note: Thorium is radioactive; along these lines, you should consistently follow the maker's warnings, guidelines, and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for its utilization. 

Lanthanated Tungsten Electrodes

Lanthanated tungsten can be utilized for DC welding applications with astounding bend dependability at low amperages while keeping up with its sharp point well and insignificant consumption rate in high amperage circumstances. 

2% lanthanated tungsten can likewise be utilized in the AC recurrence to weld aluminum while giving an exceptionally decent curve and a low consume-off pace of the terminal. They blend the most desirable characteristics between ceriated terminals and thoriated tungsten for DC and zirconiated for AC. 

Lanthanated tungsten terminals (AWS arrangement EWLa-1.5) contain 97.80 percent tungsten and nearly 2 percent lanthanum and are known as 2 percent lanthanated. These anodes have astounding curve beginning, a low burnoff rate, great curve steadiness, and astounding reignition attributes—a large number of similar benefits as ceriated anodes. Lanthanated cathodes additionally share the conductivity qualities of 2% thoriated tungsten. Now and again, 1.5 percent lanthanide can supplant 2% thoriated without making huge welding program changes. Lanthanated tungsten anodes are great, assuming you need to improve your welding abilities. 

In contrast to thoriated tungsten, these anodes are reasonable for AC welding and, the expansion of 2 percent lanthana builds the most extreme current-conveying limit by around 50% for a given terminal size.