COMPOSITION FOR COVERING MATERIAL FOR ARC WELDING ELECTRODE

PURPOSE:To provide a titled compsn. having less hygroscopicity and good coating property on a consumable electrode, by mixing powder for a covering material of a welding electrode and a binder consisting of alkali sol of low alkali or silica sol stabilized with quaternary ammonium. CONSTITUTION:The ratio between dry weight of SiO2 or the dry weight of Na2O or NR4 (R is an alkyl group) in silica sol of low alkali or silica sol stabilized with quaternary ammonium as a binder of a covering material for an arc welding electrode is preferably kept in a (80:20)-(95:5) range, more particularly preferably in an about (82:18)-(87:13) range. The ratio between the dry weight of the powder for the covering material of the welding electrode and the dry weight of SiO2 of the binder is preferably kept in a (100:0.5)-(100:20), more particularly preferably in an about (100:1)-(100:5) range. The powder for the covering material and the binder are wet mixed at a suitable ratio, and the mixture is molded to a circular cylindrical shape. The molding is packed in an extrusion coater and is extruded under high pressure and is thereby coated on a consumable electrode. The coated powder is dried and baked, whereby the covered arc welding electrode is obtd.