Reusability by filling the wear parts of down plasma nozzles with solders containing silver

Plasma, which is used in high-end production technologies since 1950s, is the fourth state of matter. First industrial plasma arc and cutting torch made by Linde in 1957. In 1962 James Browning patented a double gas and reverse polarized plasma arc welding and in this way, aluminum welding applications were made. In 1978 NASA achieved a significant commercial prestige by achieving better results using plasma in aluminum parts of space shuttles and applications have increased. When the substance is in the gaseous state, with the help of an external source, continuous energy is supplied, the material will become plasma, ie, ionize. With the help of these ions, thermal cutting is called plasma cutting. To explain this process; the ionic current at high temperature and speed to be generated by energizing the gas flowing in the end piece (torch), it is the process of directing the material to the positive pole material by focusing with the help of a nozzle and the melting of the material as a result of this orientation and the removal of the ionic current from the material by jet effect. The nozzles in the torch, which are exposed to high temperatures during the plasma cutting process, are subject to high wear. In the literature review, it was seen that plasma cutting electrodes were hafnium and their surroundings were made of copper but they were made of silver for the purpose of extending the life of the nozzle. In industrial applications, it was found that some companies used silver around the hafnium electrode and thus increased the electrode life. Plasma cutting in our country is a widely used method. Both electrodes and dimmers are imported and foreign exchange outflows from our country. In dimmer nozzles, the wear life of the nozzle is approximately 1% of the nozzle weight. Cutting quality is reduced due to wear.of extending the life of the nozzle. In this study, it was searched for the possibility of recycling and filling of worn dimmer nozzles using 2%, 20%, 40% and 92.5% silver containing solders. After the re-wear process, the soldering process was repeated and repeated use was made. In this way, it is aimed to contribute both to the national economy and to derive a new business line. Lincoln PC100 Plasma Cutting Device was used in the experiments. 5Bar pressure was used as plasma gas and air at flow rate of 200 lt / min. 50 amperes at a cutting speed of 1m / min. In the experiments, soft steel sheets of 5 mm thickness 1x1 m were cut. The cutting process was done with 1 cm sections and the material losses of the nozzle and electrode were measured with a 1/1000 g digital weighing nozzle holes. It is possible to fill the nozzles with silver-containing solders and reuse them according to the test results. Data on nozzles filled with solders containing 2% and 20% silver are not good when compared to the original copper nozzle, but data on nozzles filled with solders containing 40% and 92.5% silver are good. The original copper nozzle is even better than the equivalent place.