what is flux in welding

Flux in welding is a material used to protect the molten weld metal from contamination by the oxygen, nitrogen, and other contaminants in the atmosphere. It is a mixture of various minerals, chemicals, and alloying materials that primarily protect the molten weld metal from contamination. The addition of certain chemicals and alloys also helps to control arc stability and mechanical properties. Flux welding is a type of arc welding that uses a material called "flux" to protect the weld pool from interacting with elements in the air during the welding process. Flux materials generally consist of borax, hydrochloric acid, or zinc chloride. The primary purpose of weld flux is to prevent oxidation of the base and filler materials during the welding process. Flux welding is used for a variety of applications due to its ability to create strong, permanent welded joints in any environment, and it is used across a broad spectrum of industries, from high-rise and pipeline construction to automotive manufacturing and repair and maintenance. Flux cored arc welding (FCAW), also known as dual shield welding, is a semi-automatic arc welding process that is similar to metal active gas (MAG) welding.