Storage and handling
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481
Storage and handling
Recommendations for the Re-drying conditions
Re-drying temperatures and holding times are
storage, re-drying and specied on the label and in the product speci-
cation.
handling of ESAB covered
The re-drying temperature is the temperature in
electrodes the bulk of the electrodes.
The re-drying time is measured from the point at
General information which the re-drying temperature has been
reached.
All covered electrodes are sensitive to moisture
re-absorption to a greater or lesser degree. Care Do not stack more than four layers of electrodes
must be taken during storage and handling to in the re-drying oven.
prevent moisture being re-absorbed. It is recommended not to re-dry covered electro-
des more than three times.
Storage
Covered electrodes of any type will pick up mois- Holding oven
ture only very slowly if they are stored in the follo- The holding oven is used for intermediate stor-
wing climatic conditions. age to avoid moisture pick-up in the coating of
Temperature Relative humidity low-hydrogen electrodes and acid rutile stainless
electrodes. The electrodes which should be
5-15C < 60%
15-25C < 50% stored in the holding oven are:
above 25C < 40% 1. Electrodes that have been re-dried.
During the winter, it is possible to have low rela- 2. Electrodes that have been removed from
tive humidity by keeping the temperature in the their hermetically-sealed container.
storeroom at least 10C above the outdoor tem- 3. Electrodes that are considered to be in good
perature. During certain periods in the summer condition and are transferred directly from the
and in a tropical climate, sufciently low relative storeroom after unpacking.
humidity can be maintained by air de-humidica-
tion. Holding oven temperature: 120-150C.
If the electrodes have been stored in a cold
place, allow them to reach ambient temperature Precautions on site
before breaking the package. Keep the electrodes in electrically-heated quivers
at a minimum temperature of 70C.
Re-drying After work, return the remaining electrodes to the
Low-hydrogen basic electrodes should be re- holding oven.
dried before use whenever there are application
requirements relating to weld metal hydrogen Discoloration in the coating
content and/or radiographic soundness (not If the colour of the electrodes changes during
needed for VacPac). storage, they should be scrapped or the elec-
Acid rutile stainless electrodes and all types of trode manufacturer should be contacted.
basic electrode may produce pores in the weld if
they have not been stored in sufciently dry con- Damaged coating
ditions. Re-drying the electrodes will restore their Mechanically damaged electrodes on which
usability. parts of the coating are missing will not perform
Mild steel rutile and acid electrodes normally correctly and should be scrapped.
require no re-drying.
Cellulose electrodes must not be re-dried. VacPac
Electrodes which are seriously damaged by Electrodes in VacPac will not pick up any mois-
moisture can normally not be re-dried with rst- ture during storage. They require no re-drying
class results. These electrodes should be scrap- before use, provided the package is undamaged.
ped. This is indicated by the vacuum in the package.
482
Storage and handling
Handling VacPac electrodes Storage and handling
Protect VacPac from damage at all times.
The outer board packaging offers extra protec-
recommendations for
tion from mechanical damage to the metal foil. OK Tubrod cored wires
Handle the single inner, metal foil, VacPac with
special care. Cored wire should be stored in conditions which
Do not use a knife or any other sharp object to prevent the accelerated deterioration of products
open the outer board packaging. or packaging. All cored wires should avoid direct
contact with water or moisture. This could take
the form of rain or the condensation of moisture
Before using VacPac electrodes on a cold wire.
Check if the protective foil still contains a
Cored wires must be stored in dry conditions.
vacuum. If the vacuum has been lost, re-dry the
The relative humidity and temperature should be
electrodes before use.
monitored and the temperature should not fall
Cut open the protective foil at one end. below the dew point.
Do not take out more than one electrode at a To avoid condensation, the wire should be kept in
time, thereby ensuring that the remaining electro- the original packaging and, if necessary, left to
des are still protected inside the package. Put the warm up to at least the ambient temperature
top back on the plastic capsule. before opening the package.
Discard or re-dry electrodes that have been Other hydrogen-containing substances, such as
exposed to the atmosphere in an opened Vac- oil, grease and corrosion, or substances that
Pac for more than 12 hours. could absorb moisture must also be avoided on
the wire surface.
Products must be stored in such a way as to
avoid damage during storage.
483
Storage and handling
Storage and handling Redrying
When handled and stored as above, the ESAB
recommendations for OK Flux uxes can normally be used as they are.
ESAB uxes, agglomerated as well as fused, If, however, a severe application is considered,
have a guaranteed as-manufactured moisture as given by the applicable material specica-
content from the factories. This moisture content tion, redrying of the ux is recommended.
is well- controlled by internal ESAB specica- Furthermore, if the ux, due to unfavourable
tions. Before transport, each pallet is shrink handling or storage, has picked up moisture,
wrapped in plastic foil. This precaution action is redrying can return the ux to its original state
done in order to maintain the as-manufactured regarding moisture.
moisture content as long as possible. Flux Redrying shall be performed as follows:
should never be exposed to direct wetness such
as rain or snow. Agglomerated uxes: 300 +/- 25C for about
2-4 hours.
Storage Fused uxes: 200 +/- 50C for about 2-4 hours.
Unopened ux bags must be kept under pro- Redrying must be done on shallow plates with
perly maintained storage condition as follows: a ux height not exceeding 50 mm. Redried
Temperature: 20 +/- 10C ux, not immediately used, must be kept at 150
+/- 25C before use.
Relative humidity: As low as possible - not
exceeding 60 %.
The content of unprotected ux hoppers
should after an 8 hours shift be placed in a
drying cabinet or heated ux hopper at a tem-
perature of 150 +/- 25C.
Remaining ux from opened bags should be
placed at a temperature of 150 +/- 25C
Recycling
Moisture and oil must in a suitable way be
removed from the pressure air used in the
recycling system.
Addition of new ux must be done with the pro-
portion of at least one part new ux to three
parts recycled ux.
Foreign material such as millscale, dross etc.
should be removed by a suitable system such
as sieving.
484
