Welding Electrodes

Welding Electrodes are highly hygroscopic in nature, the welding rod consists of metal wire with coating of flux (mineral or baked chemicals).there are different types of welding electrodes with different coating depends upon the different metal(s) to be welded. Different blends of iron powder, hydrogen, cellulose, sodium, potassium, iron oxide etc are used to prepare the coating for different metals. Some of theses blends having affinity for water hence make the coating/welding electrode hygroscopic in nature.
Being hygroscopic the welding electrodes must be stored under controlled humidity to prevent deterioration of the coating. Electrodes if exposed to high humidity picks up moisture and result to improper welding, poor welding, weld cracking, fiery arcs, excess splatter of the weld metal, and weld metal at wrong place.