Storage and handling of submerged arc welding fluxes

For critical applications, shopfloor storage should

be in heated flux hoppers maintained at 120-150oC.

Flux in opened bags, not used during an 8 h period,

should be placed in a storage cabinet or heated flux

hopper, at 120-150oC.

Elgaflux and Cromaflux fluxes are supplied as standard in 25kg moisture resistant plastic bags, 25kg

hermetically sealed aluminium-coated plastic bags,

25kg plastic lined moisture resistant paper bags and

600kg coated fabric BigPac bags. All fluxes have a

guaranteed low as-manufactured moisture content

that can be maintained by observing the following

recommendations for storage and handling.

Recycling

Unused flux recovered from the welding area must

be cleaned from mill scale, slag, metal particles

and other impurities by use of a suitable fine-mesh

sieve, before being recycled.

Addition of new flux to that being recycled should

be done regularly, in the ratio 1: 3

Transport

Flux is normally supplied on plastic shrink wrapped pallets with a net weight of 1000kg or 1200kg.

BigPac bags are supplied individually on shrink

wrapped pallets. Transportation should be carried

out in covered vehicles and direct exposure to rain

and snow avoided.

Redrying

The need for redrying only arises under two

circumstances:

1. If the flux has picked up moisture due to unfavourable storage and handling, and needs to be restored

to its original condition.

Main storage

Agglomerated and fused fluxes should be stored in

their original, undamaged packaging under properly

maintained climatic conditions as follows :

•฀ Temperature

2. For critical applications demanding guaranteed

very low weld metal hydrogen levels, redrying of

the flux is recommended.

Redrying should be carried out in an appropriate

oven with free air circulation or purpose made

drier, as follows:

15-35oC

•฀ Relative humidity As low as possible,

maximum 70%

Stored under these conditions the lifetime for agglomerated fluxes is 3 years and that for fused fluxes 5

years. Stock control should encompass the first-in,

first-out principle.

Agglomerated fluxes 300-350oC for 2 h

Fused fluxes

150-250oC for 2 h

The most important factor here is for the complete

flux bed to reach the given temperature. Redried flux

that is not for immediate use should be stored in a

storage cabinet or heated flux hopper, maintained

at 120-150oC.

Storage and handling in the workshop

When handled and stored according to conditions

described above, flux can normally be used direct

from the bag. For non-critical applications, flux may

be stored on the shopfloor in unheated flux hoppers,

provided these are closed units and protect the flux

from open contact with the prevailing atmosphere.

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