What are the requirements of hafnium wire in the plasma cutting industry?

1. Purity requirements:

High purity is the key index, generally requires the purity of hafnium wire in 99.9% and above. High purity hafnium wire can ensure good electrical conductivity and stability in the plasma cutting process, reduce the influence of impurities on the cutting effect, make the cutting process more smooth and the cutting quality higher.

2. Dimensional accuracy:

Diameter accuracy: the diameter of hafnium wire needs to maintain a high degree of consistency, and usually the diameter error should be controlled in a very small range. For example, for some common plasma cutting applications, the diameter of the hafnium wire may require a precision of ± 0.05mm or even higher, so as to ensure the stable transmission of the current during the cutting process and ensure the stability and uniformity of the cutting arc.

Length accuracy: according to different plasma cutting equipment and process requirements, the length of hafnium wire also needs to be accurately controlled. Too long or too short hafnium wire may affect the normal operation and cutting effect of the equipment.

3. Surface quality:

Finish: the surface of the hafnium wire should have a high finish, no obvious scratches, pits, burrs and other defects. Smooth surface can reduce the energy loss of the current in the transmission process, reduce the local discharge phenomenon caused by the uneven surface, and improve the cutting efficiency and quality.

Cleanliness: the surface shall be kept clean, free of oil pollution, dust, oxides and other impurities. These impurities may affect the electrical conductivity and welding properties of the hafnium wire, which may lead to arc instability and poor cutting effect during the plasma cutting process.

4. Mechanical properties:

Strength: The hafnium wire needs to have sufficient strength to withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses generated during the plasma cutting process. The hafnium wire with insufficient strength may break or deform during the cutting process, affecting the normal progress of the cutting.

Toughness: good toughness can make the hafnium wire is not easy to break when subjected to external force, especially in the installation and use process, need the hafnium wire to have a certain toughness to adapt to a variety of complex working conditions.

5. Welding performance:

During the fabrication of plasma cut electrodes, hafnium wires need to be welded with other components. Therefore, the hafnium wire should have good welding properties and can be firmly welded together with other metal materials. For example, in some non-vacuum brazing processes, the hafnium wire needs to be welded with the copper matrix, which requires the hafnium wire to be fully combined with the solder during the welding process to form a firm weld to ensure the reliability and service life of the electrode.

6. Composition uniformity: the composition of hafnium silk should be kept evenly distributed on the whole filament to avoid the phenomenon of composition segregation. The hafnium wire with uniform composition can ensure the consistent performance of each part in the plasma cutting process, making the cutting arc stable and the cutting quality reliable.