Reduction of M1 Weld Fabrication Costs: The Effect of Weld Shielding Gas Composition

摘要

This project was initiated in October, 1986, to find a lower cost alternative to the weld shielding gas used for M1 fabrication at the U.S. Army Lima Tank Plant. The shielding gas in use was a newly patented mixture termed Transferred Ionized Molten Energy (TIME) gas. This gas was manufactured in Canada (and for a short time in Chicago, and now Columbus), and is much more expensive than other gas mixtures. The objective of this project is to evaluate a wide variety of weld shielding gas mixtures for welding the armor steel used in the U.S. Army M1 Abram's main battle tank. It is greatly desired to find an inexpensive gas mixture to replace the TIME gas used in 1986 at the Lima Army Tank Plant without decreasing weld performance. The gas mixtures were evaluated on gas cost, deposition rate, amount of weld hydrogen, beak profile, and amount of spatter. The effects of gas composition, weld voltage, electrode stickout, base metal composition, and nozzle geometry on welding characteristics were also evaluated. Keywords: Armor steel, Welding, Fabrication, Mechanical tests, Cost reduction. (JES)