The Difference Between Cerium Tungsten Electrode and Thorium Tungsten Electrode

With the continuous development of science and technology, such as welding, cutting and spraying, manufacturers have increasingly high requirements for tungsten electrodes, such as easy arc starting, stable arc column, and long service life. Therefore, in order to improve the shortage of pure tungsten electrode, researchers often add appropriate modifiers such as cerium oxide (CeO2) or thorium oxide in the production process, and the prepared products are naturally called corresponding electrodes such as cerium tungsten electrode and thorium tungsten electrode, which are quite different in performance and production process.

1、 Conceptual aspects

Cerium tungsten electrode is a tungsten electrode containing about 2% cerium oxide, which is called cerium tungsten electrode in English. The color code applicator is gray.

Thorium tungsten electrode is a tungsten electrode containing 1-1.2% thorium oxide, which is called Thoriated Tungsten Electrode in English. The color code coating heads are yellow, red, purple and orange.

2、 Physical and chemical properties

Cerium tungsten electrode is characterized by low melting rate, ablation resistance, good weldability, easy arcing, high arc column stability, and no radioactivity. Under certain conditions, the ablation resistance and arcing resistance of the electrode will increase with the increase of CeO2 content.

The advantages of thorium tungsten electrode include low electron work, strong current carrying capacity, good conductivity, mechanical cutting and welding, while the disadvantages are mainly radioactivity.

3、 Production

The production processes of the two are similar. The basic steps are to prepare tungsten cerium powder or tungsten thorium powder, then press it into billets, and finally conduct pre sintering, high temperature sintering, hot rotary forging, straightening, cutting, and cleaning in sequence.

4、 Use

Cerium tungsten electrode can be used in DC welding, AC welding, plasma welding/cutting/spraying/smelting.

Thorium tungsten electrode is generally used in DC welding as DC negative electrode or positive material such as stainless steel and nickel alloy, and it is also the key electrode for argon arc welding, plasma welding and other processes.