Effect of arc current on droplet ejection from tungsten-based electrode in multiphase AC arc

The dynamic behavior of droplet ejection from a tungsten electrode was successfully visualized using a high-speed camera and an appropriate band-pass filter. The effect of arc current on droplet ejection was investigated to understand the electrode erosion mechanism in the multiphase AC arc. The rate of erosion by droplet ejection increased with increasing current. This result was examined on the basis of the time variation in forces on a pending droplet at the electrode tip during the AC cycle. The relationship among electromagnetic force, surface tension, and ion pressure on the molten tip during the cathodic period is crucial for controling droplet ejection. The molten tip becomes hemispherical forming the pending droplet with an increase in the instantaneous value of arc current during the AC cycle. The pending droplet detaches from the electrode surface when electromagnetic force becomes the dominant force. Consequently, a higher rate of erosion by droplet ejection with a higher arc current resulted from a stronger electromagnetic force.