What is prohibited when using the crucible during the weld process?

When performing thermite welding, adding extra welding material into the crucible during the weld process is prohibited for several reasons. Firstly, the thermite reaction is finely calibrated to generate specific heat and molten metal necessary for creating a strong bond between the workpieces. Introducing additional welding material can disrupt this balance, potentially resulting in an insufficient weld, improper melting, or even an ineffective chemical reaction.

Moreover, each thermite reaction is dependent on the precise quantities of reactants; thus, altering this can lead not only to failure in achieving the desired weld quality but may also create safety hazards due to uncontrolled reactions or excessive slag formation. The integrity of the weld joint relies heavily on the initial setup and the established protocol, making adherence to strict guidelines critical for successful and safe welding operations.