Gas tungsten arc welding using flux coated electrodes

A method of creating a weld where access to a backside of a welding location between first and second components to be joined is unavailable or difficult, such that use of a backing material at the backside of the welding location is unavailable, wherein the first component is formed from a first superalloy and the second component is formed from a second superalloy, the method comprising:

• providing a first filler element to the welding location, the first filler element comprising at least a first material and a second material, the first material capable of cooperating with portions of the first and second components to form a first weld between a first section of the first component and a second section of the second component, the first material comprising a third superalloy, the second material capable of producing a slag upon melting thereof;
• providing an electrical current to a non-consumable tungsten electrode during gas tungsten arc welding in close proximity to the welding location to create a welding arc that provides heat that melts respective portions of the first and second components and the first filler element;
• wherein, upon melting of the first filler element:
• the first material liquefies and forms a first weld pool with the melted portions of the first and second components;
• and
• the second material forms a slag, which flows to an outer surface of the first weld pool and shields the outer surface of the first weld pool from exposure to reactive elements in the atmosphere, the outer surface of the first weld pool corresponding to at least the backside of the welding location;
• wherein the welding arc does not melt the non-consumable tungsten electrode;
• and
• wherein, upon cooling of the first weld pool, the weld pool solidifies to form a weld between the first section of the first component and the second section of the second component.