Abstract: A discharge electrode for a charger has a thin wire or core made of stainless steel or electrolytically polished tungsten, and a coating provided on the thin line. To form the coating, amorphous alloy containing tantalum, niobium, zirconium, titanium or similar element belonging to the same group on the periodic table is deposited on the thin wire by sputtering, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) or similar technology. The content of tantalum in the amorphous alloy is selected to be 10 at % to 70 at %.

Abstract: A welding method in which two metal bars are disposed such that the opposing ends of these bars are placed in a welding mold with a predetermined welding gap preserved therebetween, and are jointed to each other by filling the space formed between the opposing ends of the bars and the inner surface of the welding mold with a molten welding metal. Also, disclosed is a welding apparatus having a welding gap setting device for placing the metal bars with a predetermined welding gap therebetween and an arc welder for jointing the bars by filling the welding gap with molten welding metal.