FCWFlux cored wires are primarily used for joining a wide range of carbon, alloy and stainless steels, although nickel and hardfacing consumables are also available. Flux cored wires can come in either in rutile or basic forms, and often a rutile and basic version are available to weld the same material type. The choice of which to use is normally dependent on the application, types of welding required and the weld metal properties needed. Rutile wires use titanium oxide, rutile, as one of their key ingredients. These wires have very good positional welding characteristics because of the fast freezing rutile slag. However, these wires tend to produce welds with high levels of hydrogen in the weld metal and this can affect the mechanical strength of the weld. Basic wires are used where low weld metal hydrogen levels are required and well as good mechanical properties. The disadvantage of this wire type is that the slag produced on the surface of the weld is very tenacious and is difficult to remove. For this reason these wires are often not liked by welders.
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