Welding Technology
Welding is an important industrial process that involves a lot of variables and sciences. Welding technology is applied in a number of industry groups, including machinery manufacturers, fabricated metal products and primary metal industries. Many energy sources for welding have been developed through the technology and include gas flame, electric arc, laser, electron beam, ultrasound and friction.
Welding technology advanced greatly in 1920s when automatic welding and use of argon and hydrogen were introduced. Automatic welding ensured continuous feeding of electrode wire while argon and hydrogen solved the toxicity problems caused by the effects of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere.
Today, there are several processes to make a weld, such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Metallic Inert Gas Welding, Tungsten Inert Gas Welding and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Some of these processes do not require extra heat and others cause sparks. Due to advancement in welding technology, welding can be done in outer space and even underwater.