Exothermic Welding vs Cadweld: Which Grounding Method is Best for Industrial Earthing Systems?
.png)
What is Exothermic Welding? What is Exothermic Welding? Exothermic Welding is a permanent metal joining process that uses a high-temperature chemical reaction to fuse two conductors together. The process typically involves a mixture of aluminum powder and metal oxide, which reacts to produce molten metal at temperatures exceeding 2500°C. Unlike mechanical connections or bolted joints, Exothermic Welding creates a molecular bond that becomes part of the base conductor itself. This method is widely used in: Electrical grounding systems Earthing systems Railway bonding Lightning protection systems Substation grounding How Does Exothermic Welding Work? The process follows these steps: A graphite mold is placed around the conductors. Welding powder (metal oxide + aluminum) is poured into the mold. The powder is ignited using a flint ignitor. A controlled exothermic reaction occurs. Molten metal flows into the mold cavity. After cooling, a solid,...