Abstract
The welding quality by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding shows very high level, but the welding speed is lower than that of gas metal arc welding. Also, the welding quality by automatic GTAW is variable as the arc characteristics is changed by the consumption of electrode tip. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between the properties of tungsten electrode tip and the various arc characteristics at high current region. In this study, the high welding current 200A was applied to the repeated arc start test and long term arcing test using the $\phi$3.2 tungsten electrodes with cone angle 30$^{\circ}$, 45$^{\circ}$, 60$^{\circ}$sharp tip, and 60$^{\circ}$surface polished (S.P.) sharp tip. It was confirmed that the maximum arc pressure by the initial electrode condition was highest in 45$^{\circ}$sharp tip, and the next in 60$^{\circ}$sharp tip, the last was in 30$^{\circ}$sharp tip and 60$^{\circ}$S.P.. But, the maximum arc pressure after the repeated arc start test and long term arcing test was decreased considerably. But, the maximum arc pressure was highest also in 45$^{\circ}$ sharp tip after the tests, the next was in 30$^{\circ}$sharp tip, and the last was in 60$^{\circ}$sharp tip and 60$^{\circ}$S.P.. The arc start characteristics was the most excellent in 60$^{\circ}$S.P., By long term arcing test, the lanthania included in tungsten electrode was extinguished at tip surface preferentially, therefore the arc characteristics of electrode tip got worse.
