Comparative Evaluation of Flux Coated Mild Steel Electrodes in Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents comparative evaluation on the brands of flux coated mild steel electrodes available in the Nigerian market. There are little or no established scientific facts on why a particular brand of mild steel electrode is given preference to others in usage and cost. Spark, microstructural, microhardness and tensile strength tests of the resultant weldment sample of each electrode brand were comparatively analyzed. The results obtained showed the percentage compositions of the weldment constituents, micrographs and values of tensile strength of adhesion as well as the hardness tests. The comparative analyses revealed that FED electrode (made in Nigeria) weldment exhibited the closest conformity with the expected mechanical and chemical properties of an ideal mild steel electrode weldment, followed by Oerlikon electrode (made in Nigeria under license from abroad ) and lastly China electrode (Imported).