Fabrication of Enhanced Pinch Weld Electrodes

Technical Report · Thu Sep 27 04:00:00 EDT 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1475277· OSTI ID:1475277

Korinko, Paul ^[1]; Mcwilliams, Anthony ^[1]; Hitchcock, Dale ^[1]; Faraone, Kevin ^[1]

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1. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Savannah River Site uses brazed copper / tungsten electrodes for a specialized weld referred to as a pinch weld. As part of an internally funded PDRD program, an alternative method to produce the pinch weld electrodes was sought to improve quality and to reduce the manufacturing steps. Back casting of pinch weld electrodes was selected as such a process. During preliminary testing, deformation of the electrodes was observed. A failure analysis was conducted, and the strength of the electrodes was found to be significantly less than required to enable welding of the tubes. This assessment includes compression testing metallographic analysis. The pinch weld electrodes fabricated by back casting do not meet the requirements with respect to strength. In addition, a minimum strength requirement for conventionally prepared electrodes is recommended.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1475277
• Report Number(s): SRNL--STI-2018-00493
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
Electrodes
Failure Analysis
PDRD
Pinch Welding