During a test series of GTAW-HW welds with different deposition rates and welding speeds, the welding wire from VDM Metals performed very well. Even in tests with high deposition rates (wire feeding speeds 711 cm/min - 280 IPM - 0.045''), the wire feed continued to be excellent. The resulting weld beads were straight with good edge wetting and a clean weld surface.

The wire also scored well in surface characteristics. The weld wire had a smooth surface and the resultant weld deposits exhibited minimal surface oxides and no observed flaking during wire feeding even at the high deposition rates.

VDM® FM 625 is a versatile nickel-chromium-molybdenum filler metal in wire form for joint welding of VDM® Alloy 625 and other similar alloys in wet corrosion and high temperature applications. It is also used for corrosion resistant overlay welding in oil production pipes andfittings and on steam generator tubes.

VDM Metals also offers the material under the designation VDM® WS 625 as a strip electrode for electroslag overlay welding. It is used to coat low-alloy materials as a corrosion-resistant cladding for sour gas applications and to protect against corrosion of boiler tubes in waste incineration plants.

The tests were carried out on ASTM A106 Grade B pipes and AISI 4140.  ASTM A106/ASME SA106 is the standard specification for seamless carbon steel tubes used for high temperature applications. It includes three grades A, B and C, and the common grade is A106 Grade B. It is used in various industries for the construction of pipeline systems and vessels, among others.  4140 is the AISI equivalent of 40CrMo4 and DIN 1.7225 and is one of the most common low alloy steels used in industry today.