What are welding electrodes?
Welding electrodes send an electric current or arc across two pieces of metal, creating extreme heat and causing the two metals to fuse. A welding electrode can be an anode, a cathode, or the electrode can have an alternating current. Depending on the type of welding, the electrode can be consumable or non-consumable.Chemistry of Arc WeldingIn arc welding, the exchange of electrons between two metals, known as the arc, creates heat that can meld metals. The arc’s electrons pass through the charged metal surface and a welding electrode. In most cases, the arc must be protected with gases, such as Helium or Argon, or flux. Depending on the type of welding, the high heat created by the arc either melts two metals together or uses a filler metal to conjoin two surfaces.Consumable ElectrodesSome types of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas metal arc welding (GMAW), use a specially fabricated welding electrode that breaks down from t
