Final answer:
The contact tip in Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is typically made of copper, which offers excellent electrical conductivity and wear resistance, essentials for maintaining welding quality and efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The contact tip used in Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is usually made of copper or a copper alloy. SAW is a common industrial welding process that relies heavily on the quality of contact tips to ensure a stable electric current and consistent feeding of the welding wire into the joint being welded.
These contact tips are consumable parts that are designed to facilitate the transfer of current to the welding wire while resisting wear and electrical resistance, which makes copper an ideal material due to its excellent electrical conductivity and relatively good wear resistance. Throughout continuous usage, contact tips can deteriorate and need to be replaced to maintain welding efficiency and quality.