A novel swing arc system was developed to realize high quality narrow gap GMA welding at low cost. This system uses a motor of hollow axis to turn directly the micro-bent conductive rod and then to weave circularly the arc around itself axis of torch, and can automatically search for the midpoint of symmetrical swing trail and detect precisely swing frequency in real time. Three mathematical models are also presented to calculate precisely key swing variables from torch structure and process parameters. Experimental results show that weld surface curvature and the penetration into groove sidewalls increase and weld sectional thickness decreases with increasing swing frequency and at-sidewall staying time of arc, while bottom shape of bead varies from single to twin peaks. This swing arc process thus improved obviously narrow gap weld formation.

The present work develops a hollow axis motor driven swing arc process for narrow gap vertical GMA welding, and investigates the characteristics of swing arc force, heat and weld formation. This process uses an upwardly bending conductive rod through the established mathematical models to weave circularly the arc, and then enables arc force to resolve into three favorable components while regulating arc energy distribution in groove, finally yielding satisfied vertical welds even with concave surface. Experimental results show that the penetrated depths into groove sidewall and bottom plate grew with increasing groove gap and decreasing rod bending angle, and molten pool sagging and bottom twin peaks were suppressed by great bending angle and respectively in wide and narrow grooves.

Ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/nano silicon carbide (nano‐SiC) composites were prepared by compression molding. The effects of a coupling agent and the content of the filler on the filler dispersion and the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites first increased and then decreased with increasing SiC content. The macromolecular coupling agent exhibited a much better reinforcing effect than the small‐molecule coupling agent. The tensile strength of the composites with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550), γ‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570), and silicone powders reached its maximum value when the silicon carbide (SiC) content was 3%. We found that a web of the UHMWPE/SiC/coupling agent was formed and played a significant role in improving the heat resistance of the composites. In addition, appropriate amounts of SiC could increase the crystallinity of UHMWPE via a process of heterogeneous nucleation. The comprehensive performance of the KH550/silicone/SiC/UHMWPE composites was the best. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013