This is a list of welding processes, separated into their respective categories. The associated N reference numbers (second column) are specified in ISO 4063 (in the European Union published as EN ISO 4063). Numbers in parentheses are obsolete and were removed from the current (1998) version of ISO 4063. The AWS reference codes of the American Welding Society are commonly used in North America.

Arc welding

Overview article: arc welding

NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Bare Metal Arc Welding(113)BMAWConsumable electrode, no flux or shielding gasHistorical
Carbon Arc Welding(181)CAWCarbon electrode, historicalCopper, repair (limited)
Flux Cored Arc Welding136 138FCAW FCAW-SContinuous consumable electrode filled with fluxIndustry, construction
Gas Metal Arc Welding131 135GMAWContinuous consumable electrode and shielding gasIndustry
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding141GTAWNonconsumable electrode, slow, high quality weldsAerospace, Construction (piping), Tool and Die
Plasma Arc Welding15PAWNonconsumable electrode, constricted arcTubing, instrumentation
Shielded Metal Arc Welding111SMAWConsumable electrode covered in flux, can weld any metal as long as they have the right electrodeConstruction, outdoors, maintenance
Submerged Arc Welding121SAWAutomatic, arc submerged in granular flux
Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding185MIABBoth tube ends are electrodes; no protection gas; arc rotates fast along edge by applied magnetic fieldPipelines and tubes
Atomic Hydrogen Welding(149)AHWTwo metal electrodes in hydrogen atmosphereHistorical

Oxyfuel gas welding

Overview article: Oxy-fuel welding and cutting

NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Air acetylene welding(321)AAWChemical welding process, not popularLimited
Oxyacetylene welding311OAWCombustion of acetylene with oxygen produces high-temperature flame, inexpensive equipmentMaintenance, repair
Oxygen/Propane welding312Gas welding with oxygen/propane flame
Oxyhydrogen welding313OHWCombustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces flameLimited
Pressure gas weldingPGWGas flames heat surfaces and pressure produces the weldPipe, railroad rails (limited)

Resistance welding

Overview article: electric resistance welding

NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Resistance spot welding21RSWTwo pointed electrodes apply pressure and current to two or more thin workpiecesAutomobile industry, Aerospace industry
Resistance seam welding22RSEWTwo wheel-shaped electrodes roll along workpieces, applying pressure and currentAerospace industry, steel drums, tubing
Projection welding23PWSemi-Automatic, Automatic, Welds are localized at predetermined points.
Flash welding24FW
Upset welding25UWButt joint surfaces heated and brought together by force

Solid-state welding

NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Coextrusion WeldingCEWDissimilar metals are extruded through the same dieJoining of corrosion resistant alloys to cheaper alloys or alloys with more favorable mechanical properties
Cold pressure welding48CWJoining of soft alloys such as copper and aluminium below their melting pointElectrical contacts
Diffusion welding45DFWNo weld line visibleTitanium pump impellor wheels
Explosion welding441EXWJoining of dissimilar materials, e.g. corrosion resistant alloys to structural steelsTransition joints for chemical industry and shipbuilding. Bimetal pipelines
Electromagnetic pulse weldingTubes or sheets are accelerated by electromagnetic forces. Oxides are expelled during impactAutomotive industry, pressure vessels, dissimilar material joints
Forge welding(43)FOWThe oldest welding process in the world. Oxides must be removed by flux or flames.Damascus steel
Friction welding42FRWThin heat affected zone, oxides disrupted by friction, needs sufficient pressureAerospace industry, railway, land transport
Friction stir welding43FSWA rotating non-consumable tool is traversed along the joint lineShipbuilding, aerospace, railway rolling stock, automotive industry
Friction stir spot weldingFSSWA rotating non-consumable tool is plunged into overlapping sheetsAutomotive industry
Hot pressure weldingHPWMetals are pressed together at elevated temperatures below the melting point in vacuum or an inert gas atmosphereAerospace components
Hot isostatic pressure welding47HPWA hot inert gas applies the pressure inside a pressure vessel, i.e. an autoclaveAerospace components
Roll weldingROWBimetallic materials are joined by forcing them between two rotating wheelsDissimilar materials
Ultrasonic welding41USWHigh-frequency vibratory energy is applied to foils, thin metal sheets or plastics.Solar industries-. Electronics. Rear lights of cars. Diapers.

Other types of welding

NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Electron beam welding51 511EBWDeep penetration, fast, high equipment cost
Electroslag welding72ESWWelds thick workpieces quickly, vertical position, steel only, continuous consumable electrodeHeavy plate fabrication, construction, shipbuilding
Flow welding (previously cast welding)Distortion is minimized, and the thermal cycle is relatively benign.Joining rails in situ by liquid metal
Induction welding74IW
Laser beam welding521 522LBWDeep penetration, fast, high equipment costAutomotive industry
Laser-hybrid weldingCombines LBW with GMAW in the same welding head, able to bridge gaps up to 2mm (between plates), previously not possible with LBW alone.Automotive, Shipbuilding, Steelwork industries
Percussion welding77PEWFollowing an electrical discharge, pressure is applied which forges the materials togetherComponents of switch gear devices
Thermite welding71TWExothermic reaction between aluminium powder and iron oxide powderRailway tracks
Electrogas welding73Continuous consumable electrode, vertical positioning, steel onlyStorage tanks, shipbuilding
Stud arc welding78Welds studs to base material with heat and pressure

Notes and references

  • Cary, Howard B. and Scott C. Helzer (2005). Modern Welding Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-13-113029-3.
  • Lincoln Electric (1994). The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding. Cleveland: Lincoln Electric. ISBN 99949-25-82-2.

See also

External links