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September 05, 2022

Aviation welding is an important procedure that should be handled by experts and professional welders. Many factors affect aviation welding, but the natural processes of expansion and contraction also play an integral role in it.

Professional aviation welding technicians use a variety of welding methods and procedures to ensure maximum quality and safety. Safe working practices are a key component of the training of aviation welders. Relying on them to deal with such complex procedures is important to get the best results.

Let’s explore how exactly these processes affect the quality of welding procedures.

Impact Of Expansion And Contraction On Metal

According to the natural properties of metals, they expand upon heating up and contract while cooling down. Due to the expansion in metal, the size, structure, and overall composition of the metal is also affected.

Experts take great care of the fact that expanded metal is not the same as cold metal. It also affects the strength of the metal. If you keep heating the metal, its strength will keep deteriorating. As a result, it becomes possible to mold and weld metals easily at high temperatures.

On the contrary, the metal starts to regain its strength when it is cooled down. Therefore, it is difficult to change the shape of cold metal. Once the metal has completely cooled, it will regain its maximum strength.

Impact Of Expansion And Contraction On Welding Quality

Heating and cooling affect the strength of the metal and the welding quality, due to which it is important to be familiar with these processes to ensure optimum quality. Generally, when you contact a professional aviation welding technician, you will not have to worry about these processes as experts perform aviation welding in controlled environments to get the best quality.

If a welding technician does not use the heat properly, it will cause the metal to expand irregularly and cause an uneven welding job. The metal’s surface can also become inconsistent, leading to poor welding quality.

The best way to avoid unevenness is to rely on professionals with years of welding experience. Even heating and gradual cooling will not damage the metal’s quality, and welding can be completed quickly with the best quality.

If you notice any kind of metal warping, it should make it clear to you that uneven heating and cooling has occurred on the metal’s surface. Such types of damaged metals cannot be used for aeronautical reasons, so it is important to focus on welding quality from the beginning of the process.

The Impact On Aircraft Exhaust Systems

If some metal components that have been affected by warping or buckling are used in an aircrafts’ exhaust system, it can adversely affect the entire plane and flight safety. Such types of metal components become vulnerable to quick breaking and cracking that can damage the entire aircraft.

Therefore, if you observe any kind of buckling or warping on the metal components, it represents the initial stages of cracking. In such a situation, you should contact a professional aviation welding technician to fix the issue.

Other than contraction and expansion, several other things can go wrong with an aircraft exhaust system. Hence, it is always a good idea to consult a professional aviation welder and technician to inspect the system thoroughly and repair any damaged or worn-out parts.

Also Read: Aircraft Fuel System Inspection And Maintenance

Controlling The Expansion And Contraction Of Metal

Experts use a variety of strategies and methods to control the expansion and contraction of metals. Inexperienced individuals cannot handle such technicalities, so you should leave it to professional aviation welding technicians to perform welding as per the global standards and industry best practices.

A common preventative method used to avoid the harmful impacts of expansion and contraction is to use a preheating strategy before starting the welding procedure. As the name suggests, preheating means the metal is heated to a certain degree before initiating the process of welding. Hence, the process of molding and welding metal becomes smooth and easy.

About Us

Acorn Welding offers professional welding and aviation welding services to ensure such sensitive procedures are handled in the best way possible. You can contact us for more information about our welding procedures and get rid of the common flaws and issues that can occur in welding procedures.