Abstract: A coated electrode is provided comprising a metal core rod and a sheath coating enveloping said rod, said sheath consisting essentially of at least one hard phase-forming element in particulate form bonded to said rod, said sheath containing an amount of a solid metal halogenide ranging from over 0.01 to 3% by weight of said sheath effective to provide a weld deposit in which hard phases are uniformly distributed therethrough.

Abstract: A carbide laden consumable is produced using a mold having at least one U-shaped groove running along the surface thereof, the consumable being produced by charging a first layer of a powdered self-fluxing alloy into the groove, a second layer of a powdered refractory carbide on said first layer and a third layer of said self-fluxing alloy on the carbide layer, and the charged mold then passed through a heating furnace under a reducing atmosphere to produce by melting and cooling a consumable of markedly improved quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for surfacing by plasma-arc welding including in particular a plasma torch and a control and power supply device for the formation of a transferred arc between the electrode of the torch and the workpiece to be surfaced and of a non-transferred arc between the said electrode and the nozzle of the torch, the control and power supply device comprising a single d.c. source one terminal of which is connected to the electrode of the torch and the other terminal of which is connected, on the one hand, to the workpiece to be surfaced and on the other hand to the nozzle of the torch via a resistance. The plasma torch has at least two cooling systems supplied by a distribution device which is controlled as a function of the cooling water temperature and/or the electrical power consumption of the torch.

Abstract: A quinary silver alloy containing copper, zinc and tin as essential elements and also including effective amounts of silicon, is provided capable of a variety of uses and having particular utility as a solder or brazing alloy, the alloy having the following composition by weight:35 -- 48% Ag25 -- 35% Zn0.5 -- 3.5% Sn0.01 -- 0.4% Si0 --1% Ni0 --1% Pd0 -- 0.5% Pbalance -- essentially Cu.