What occurs during the negative polarity half cycle in GTAW?

In Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), the half cycle associated with negative polarity is crucial for understanding how the welding process functions. During the negative polarity half cycle, the workpiece, which is often made of a conductive material, becomes the anode, while the tungsten electrode serves as the cathode. This polarity arrangement allows for the majority of the heat to be concentrated in the workpiece rather than the electrode itself.

As a result, this phenomenon leads to efficient heat transfer to the work, which not only facilitates melting and joining of the materials being welded but also helps to ensure good penetration and fusion at the weld joint. The ability to direct more heat towards the workpiece allows for better control over the weld bead shape, penetration depth, and overall weld quality.

In contrast, the other options incorrectly assign heat distribution to the tungsten or indicate that no heat is produced, which does not accurately reflect the dynamics of the GTAW process during the negative polarity phase. Overall, the focus on heat concentration in the workpiece during this cycle is central to achieving effective welding results using GTAW.