electroslag welding
Electroslag welding (ESW) is an advanced vertical welding process that revolutionizes the joining of thick metal plates. This highly efficient method employs molten slag as a heating medium to melt both the filler metal and the workpiece edges. The process begins with an initial arc that heats the flux to create a conductive slag pool. Once established, the slag pool maintains its temperature through electrical resistance heating, eliminating the need for an arc. The molten metal collects in the slag pool and solidifies to form the weld. The entire process is contained within water-cooled copper shoes that shape the weld and retain the molten metal and slag. ESW excels in joining thick materials, typically ranging from 1 to 12 inches, in a single pass. This technique is particularly valuable in heavy industrial applications, such as shipbuilding, pressure vessel fabrication, and structural steel construction. The process achieves remarkable deposition rates, often exceeding 100 pounds per hour, making it significantly more productive than conventional welding methods. The resulting welds demonstrate excellent mechanical properties, complete fusion, and minimal distortion, particularly in thick-section applications where traditional welding methods might require multiple passes.