What is Transferred Arc in Welding?

Transferred arc welding is a welding process in which the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece. The molten metal is transferred across the arc to the workpiece.

Types of transferred arc welding processes

There are 3 types of transferred arc welding processes, namely:

Plasma Arc Welding (PAW).
Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC).
Thermal Plasma Spraying (TPS).

In plasma arc welding, a plasma arc is established between the electrode and the workpiece.

The molten metal is transferred across the arc to the workpiece. In plasma arc cutting, the heat for cutting is generated by an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece. The molten metal is blown away by the plasma. In thermal plasma spraying, a plasma arc is established between the electrode and the workpiece. The heat for spraying is generated by the arc. The molten metal is deposited on the workpiece.

Advantages of transferred arc welding

The main advantage of transferred arc welding is that it can be used to weld metals that are difficult to weld by other processes. The main disadvantages of transferred arc welding are that it is a complex process and it requires high capital investment.

What is the difference between transferred and Nontransferred arc in plasma arc welding?

In plasma arc welding, the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece. In non-transferred arc plasma welding, the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a consumable electrode and the workpiece.

The main difference between transferred and non-transferred arc in plasma arc welding is that in transferred arc plasma welding, the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece whereas, in non-transferred arc plasma welding, the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a consumable electrode and the workpiece.

What are the applications of Transferred Arc Welding?

Transferred arc welding is used in the following applications:

Welding of metals that are difficult to weld by other processes.
Welding of exotic alloys.
Joining of dissimilar metals.
Spraying of coatings.

What is PTA welding?

PTA welding is a welding process in which the heat for welding is generated by an arc between a non-consumable electrode and the workpiece. The molten metal is transferred across the arc to the workpiece. PTA welding is also known as plasma transferred arc welding or plasma arc welding.