Final answer:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as arc shielding, is a common manual welding process used in a significant portion of industrial welding, featuring an electric arc from a consumable electrode to melt and join metals. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arc shielding, which is utilized in about 50% of large-scale industrial welding, is also known as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). This welding process is a popular manual technique that involves the use of an electric arc from a welding power supply to create heat, which melts the metal at the weld point. SMAW is often chosen for its simplicity, versatility, and effectiveness in joining metals together.
In SMAW, the electric arc is generated between a consumable electrode and the workpiece. The electrode has a coating, often called flux, which serves a variety of functions: it helps stabilize the arc, provides a gaseous shield to protect the weld area from oxygen and other atmospheric gases and contributes to the formation of , which covers the molten metal as it cools to prevent oxidation.