How to Use Hydrogen in Welding

Atomic hydrogen welding also is known as arc-atom welding and Langmuir welding. This type of arc welding produces an arc between a pair of tungsten electrodes in a hydrogen atmosphere. An atomic hydrogen welding torch produces a flame up to 4,000 degrees C and can weld tungsten.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Maintain the arc independently of the work you are performing. The metal being welded is a part of the circuit only to the extent that it comes into contact with a portion of the arc.

2. Use hydrogen as a shielding gas. It protects the weld from contamination by other elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. The hydrogen also serves as a mechanism to transport energy from the arc plasma to the metal you are welding.

3. Perform atomic hydrogen welding without a flux. Unlike other forms of welding, atomic hydrogen welding does not require a flux because hydrogen is such a strong reducer. It can therefore melt alloys without causing surface oxidation.

4. Control the heat by changing the distance between the arc stream and the metal surface. Atomic hydrogen welding can deliver heat to the work piece quickly because of the large amount of energy that the hydrogen absorbs from the arc. The hydrogen then releases the heat to the work piece when it recombines into diatomic hydrogen.

5. Use a power source with a high voltage but low current to strike the arc. The open circuit voltage of an atomic hydrogen welding torch is up to 300 volts but the current is only in the 10 to 20 ampere range.