Applications :
Welding electrodes are used in the joining of two metals together. They support the high-temperature welding arcs, resulting in a stronger bond. Mild steel electrodes are usually coated with high quality but low carbon steel deposits. They have considerable tensile and yield strength, can sustain a long-standing arc, and are mostly applied in the welding processes of mild steels, galvanized and low alloy steels. The outer coating of an electrode helps in keeping the welding arc steady, protects the molten metal from exposure to oxygen and nitrogen, and also the cooling rate. Mild steel electrodes are more commonly used in manufacturing and automobile repairing industries.
An electrode is used to conduct current through a workpiece to fuse two pieces together. Depending upon the process, the electrode is either consumable, in the case of gas metal arc welding or shielded metal arc welding, or non-consumable, such as in gas tungsten arc welding. For a direct current system, the weld rod or stick may be a cathode for a filling type weld or an anode for other welding processes. For an alternating current arc welder, the welding electrode would not be considered an anode or cathode.