Among the non-consumable electrodes, the yttrium tungsten electrode is the most consistent, so it is often used to weld steel structures and non-ferrous alloys such as carbon steel, low alloy steel, copper, titanium, stainless steel, etc. under direct current/DC. This type of electrode arc beam is slender and has a large degree of compression, and its penetration is the largest in medium and large currents. Thanks to these characteristics, it is especially popular in the military industry and aerospace industry.
Yttrium tungsten electrode contains 1.8-2.2% yttrium oxide, and the electron escape work is 2.8-3.2ev. They are marked WY-20 (navy blue) according to international marking. Among the components of the WY20 electrode, there are silicon, molybdenum, manganese, sulfur, carbon, and phosphorus. When the impact hardness is 100 J/cm2, the surfacing coefficient is 9.5 h/Ah. One of the characteristics of domestic electrodes is the need for short arc processing and pre-baking. The last is done in a dedicated furnace for an hour.
