TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 337/1987
I D Harris and W Lucas
Scope
Plasma cutting trials were carried out using argon-15%H 2, argon-35%H2 and nitrogen gases to cut a range of metals, namely 12.5mm and 25mm thick BS 4360 Grade 50D steel, 12.5mm AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel, and 12.5mm commercial purity aluminium. Cutting trials were conducted using both gas from standard cylinders and with the same gases to which various levels of water were added using equipment specially constructed for the investigation. The effects of moisture additions on cut quality and maximum cutting speeds were assessed. In addition, limited metallography was carried out on cross-sections of the cuts to assess the effects of using a wet gas on the depth and hardness of the HAZ, and the results were compared with the oxygen-gas and cold sawing processes.