This process of high current arc discharge welding required the contact materialand carrier to have two flat surfaces with one having a protruding nib. This nibacts as the igniter point for the high current arc ''(Fig. 3.11)''.  [[File:Percussion welding (schematic).jpg|right|thumb|Percussion welding (schematic)]] The electric arcproduces a molten layer of metallic material in the interface zone of the contacttip and carrier. Immediately afterwards the two components are pushed togetherwith substantial impact and speed causing the liquid metal to form a strong jointacross the whole interface area.Because of the very short duration of the whole melt and bonding process thetwo components, contact tip and carrier, retain their mechanical hardness andstrength almost completely except for the immediate thin joint area. Theunavoidable weld splatter around the periphery of the joint must bemechanically removed in a secondary operation.The percussion welding process is mainly applied in the production of rodassemblies for high voltage switchgear.