CAD Welding | CADWELL Thermite Welding | Exothermic Welding

Cad welding / Cadwell thermit welding process:

Cad welding or Cadwell Welding process is a modification of the simple thermit welding process (exothermic welding process) in which controlled reduction of copper oxide and aluminium is used to produce molten copper and aluminium oxide slag. Exothermic is a chemical term describing a chemical reaction which gives off heat as the reaction takes place.

The reactions involved may be written as:

3CuO + 2Al à 3 Cu + Al₂O₃ + Heat

3Cu₂O + 2Al à 6 Cu + Al₂O₃ + Heat

The reactions produce 98 percentage of pure copper. The heat of reaction and the pure copper thus obtained are used in the welding of copper to copper and copper to steel. Some specific applications are in the welding of heavy copper cable connections and in the welding of signal bonds to rails.

The cable welding equipment essentially consists of a combination of crucible mould machined in graphite material or carbon material. This mould is assembled into a “handle and clamp” assembly. The mixture is packed in cartridges and can be stored safely. The resulting welding tool is a compact assembly which is portable.

History of Cad Welding:

The process was developed in 1938 for welding copper alloy signal bonds to rails. Designed by Dr Charles Cadwell on behalf of ERICO, the process was named CADWELD.

Components of CAD Weld:

1. Mould to fit your conductors.

2. Weld Metal required by your mould including drop metal disk.

3. Handle Clamps or Frame.

4. Flint Ignitor (included with handle clamps and frames).

5. Lugs, sleeves, packing material listed on the page with the mould.

Process Steps:

1. The insulation on the cables is removed, the conductors are positioned in the mould cavity and the welding tool is closed and clamped. The cartridge is emptied into the crucible.

2. The bottom of each cartridge is filled with a little inflammable powder for starting. This powder is ignited with a spark gun which sets off the reaction.

3. The molten copper melts the small steel disc preplaced at the bottom of the crucible, and the metal runs into the mould to weld the two conductors together.

4. The resulting cad welded conductor has the tensile strength of soft drawn copper. By deliberately increasing the cross sectional area of the weld, the current carrying capacity of the joint is made equal to or more than of the original conductor.

5. After the welding, a little aluminium oxide slag remains in the crucible of the unit which can be cleaned and the welding tool made ready for the next weld.

Advantages:

1. Making electrical connections of copper to copper or copper to steel in which no outside source of heat is required.

2. For use in critical ground terminations where a high level of security is required

3. Also ideal for installation in heavy traffic areas

4. Suitable for both paving and hot tar applications