Independent Research Company Verifies Process for Bonal's Weld Distortion Control
Study finds that Meta-Lax® technology, as used during welding achieves weld distortion control for steel, aluminum and stainless steel
o Hot Rolled Steel - Distortion Reduced by 95%
o Aluminum - Distortion Reduced by 50%
o Stainless Steel - Distortion Reduced by 26%
Royal Oak, Mich., December 9, 2008 - Bonal Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Bonal International, Inc. (otc BONL), recently contracted Applications Technologies Company (ATC), LLC of Columbus, Ohio, to independently investigate using Meta-Lax Weld Conditioning (MLWC) and Pulse Puddle Arc Welding® (PPAW®) during welding for the purpose of verifying the following:
o If MLWC / PPAW can be shown to reduce distortion compared to normal welding
o If so, what are the "optimum" parameters needed to achieve maximum distortion control
o If by using Meta-Lax technology can the welder increase travel speed.
ATC tested three metals for Bonal Technologies -1020 hot rolled steel; 6061-T6 aluminum; and 304 stainless steel. The study showed that when comparing the amount of distortion with or without PPAW on all three metals, users will see a reduced amount of distortion when PPAW is properly applied. Results indicate that optimal PPAW can reduce distortion as much as 95% for steel, 50% for aluminum and 26% for stainless steel, compared to welds conducted without the use of PPAW.
Summary of the steel report
o "The optimization study verified that Bonal's recommended setting provided the least amount of angular distortion."
o "This provides additional verification that the methods prescribed by Bonal are valid and can lead to distortion mitigation."
o In addition the study showed that when using PPAW, a welder can increase his weld travel speed by 25% and still reduce weld distortion by 67% versus the normal welded sample without PPAW.
Summary of the aluminum report:
o "Welds produced using the PPAW and preferred parameters provided reduced distortion by approximately 50% compared to welds produced without PPAW."
o "The first trend to note is that all welds produced using the PPAW technology had less distortion than welds produced without the use of PPAW."
Summary of the stainless steel report:
o "Welds produced using PPAW and preferred parameters exhibit reduced distortion by approximately 26% compared to welds produced without PPAW."
o Parameters as recommended by Bonal produced optimum results for weld distortion control.
o "The manual welds conducted with PPAW have less distortion [34%] than the manual welds conducted without PPAW."
o Manual welds produced using PPAW at a 25% increased weld travel speed exhibited 27% less distortion than welds produced without PPAW.
Research Details
Two series of laboratory tests were conducted to test two different aspects of the PPAW system. The first tests were conducted to determine optimized parameters for the PPAW process while the second was conducted to compare distortion tendencies in sample joints when welding with and without PPAW. The test trials to be performed were established using a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach. Using this method, a minimum number of tests can be conducted to determine the relationship among multiple variables. Those variables selected to change included: frequency, eccentric load and travel speed.
The optimization study verified that Bonal's recommended settings provided the least amount of angular distortion.
For a summary of Bonal Technologies' research, visit www.meta-lax.com/Home/Research/research.html. The Meta-Lax Technology as used During Welding to Reduce Distortion report can be found at www.meta-lax.com/pdf/ATC.pdf. Manufacturers interested in the three detailed reports that illustrate the results can contact Bonal Technologies Inc. either by phone at 1-(800) META-LAX or by email at info@bonal.com.
Find out more information on Meta-Lax or PPAW at www.bonal.com.
Bonal Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Bonal International, Inc. (otc, BONL) is the world's leading provider of sub-harmonic stress relief technology for metal improvement solutions with more than 35 years of expertise. Headquartered in Royal Oak, Mich., Bonal Technologies, Inc. provides solutions to prevent distortion and cracking for metal components. Bonal's patented technology and its three product lines: Meta-Lax® Stress Relief, Pulse Puddle Arc Welding® (PPAW®) and Black Magic® are sold in the US and in 49 countries. The company serves customers in a wide range of industries - aerospace, automotive, construction equipment, defense/ homeland security, die casting, engine building/racing, foundries, machine tool/moldmaking, mining, petroleum, power, plastic molding, shipbuilding, structural steel construction, steel producers and welding/fabricating industries.
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