5
Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies
Improving Global Quality of Life
The advent of Word War 1 gave great impetus to the application of welding, when quick repair and
construction, especially of ships, was paramount. Arc welding was first applied to aircraft during the war as
well, as some German airplane fuselages were constructed using the process.
Welding started to take gradual precedence in shipbuilding as a preferred technique during the
1920
s
when
it was used primarily for bulkheads and decking; however, the all-important hull still remained riveted. The
arguments on welding versus riveting still did not lessen even though welding offered considerable benefits.
These differences of opinion were to continue until the
1940
s
,
or even later, when the economic benefits of
welding finally won.
1930
saw the release of stud welding, which soon became popular in shipbuilding and construction.
Submerged arc welding was invented the same year, and continues to be popular today. Further advances
allowed for the welding of reactive metals like aluminium and magnesium. This, in conjunction with
developments in automatic welding, alternating current, and fluxes fed a major expansion of arc welding
during the
1930
s
and then during World War II.
After decades of development, gas tungsten arc welding was finally perfected in 1941, followed in 1948 by
gas metal arc welding, both processes allowing fast welding of non-ferrous materials but requiring expensive
shielding gases.
Shielded metal arc welding using a flux coated consumable electrode quickly became the most popular
metal arc welding process
by the 1950s
.
In
1957
,
the flux-cored arc welding process was released, resulting
in greatly increased welding speeds as the self-shielded wire electrode could be used with automatic
equipment. Plasma arc welding was invented that same year, electroslag welding was introduced in
1958
,
followed by electro-gas welding in
1961
.
Other developments in welding include the
1958
breakthrough of electron beamwelding which, undertaken
under vacuum conditions, makes deep and narrow welding possible through the concentrated heat source.
The laser has also made significant contributions to both cutting preparation and welding and has proved
to be especially useful in high-speed, automated welding. Friction-stir welding, a solid-state joining process
where the metal is not melted during the process, was invented and experimentally proven at The Welding
Institute UK and patented in
December 1991
.
An enabling technology in so many applications and industry sectors, welding continues to evolve. Micro-
joining and nano-welds actively contribute to manufacturing for the electronics, medical and aerospace
industries, and are leading to the future of joining technologies.
Welding contributes positively to all human endeavour and the quality of life of all. It does this in numerous
ways, whether through creating power for lighting and cooking; potable water and safe sanitation;
national infrastructure; efficient and effective transportation; accommodation both for living and working;
a multitude of machines for different industrial applications, medical, health and safety devices or by many
other ways. Without welding, people around the world could not switch on a light, turn a tap to access
water, travel by train, road or air, or use a computer.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in developing countries, where the provision of basic infrastructure and
services is critical to the wellbeing of millions of people. The application of appropriate welding technologies,
as opposed to leading edge technologies, and the training of people to correctly apply welding technology
in a safe manner is a major goal of the IIW.
International cooperation, networking and innovation through the IIW WeldCare programme, discussed in
the following sections, is a keystone to the future quality of life for people around the globe.
2
Welding industry in the world
