Modeling of physicochemical and thermophysical characteristics of SrO-CaO-Al₂O₃-CaF₂-based shielded metal arc welding coating

Abstract

This study investigates electrode coatings designed for use in nuclear power plant weld joints, particularly their electrical, thermophysical and physicochemical properties. The Al2O3-CaF2-CaO-SrO-based shielded metal arc welding electrodes were developed using the extreme vertices design technique. The coating composition's structure and phases were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to identify the types of bonds present. Advanced characterization methods were utilized to assess the coating formulations’ physicochemical, thermophysical and structural aspects. Thermal properties, including specific heat, thermal diffusivity and conductivity, were evaluated using a hot disk apparatus, while thermogravimetric analysis was employed to determine the enthalpy change and thermal stability of the flux coating. The electrical properties of the flux coatings were examined using a precision LCR instrument. Statistical analysis was employed to create regression models for each coating property to investigate the influence of mineral constituents on the flux coating properties. Regression analysis is a statistical method used to establish a relationship between mineral interactions. In flux composition selection, it can help determine the physical significance of each factor and its relationship with the coating's performance. The results indicate that the mineral constituents’ individual elements, binary and tertiary interactions, significantly impact the flux composition's physicochemical, electrical and thermophysical properties.