As for welding gas, you can choose argon for welding as your shielding gas for better weld quality and higher productivity.
Argon is one of the gases used for welding. Argon (Ar) is an inert gas that poses no health hazards.
It does not react with metals or any chemicals, hence, making it a safe gas to use for shielding during welding.
In this article, I will focus on how & why argon gas is used as a shielding gas for welding. Keep reading!
Argon for Welding
Argon is the most common gas used for welding because it has a very low concentration of impurities and a high level of purity. Argon is used for most welding processes because it does not react with other elements, which means that its effects on the weld are minimal, and the finished weld is stronger than those made with other gases.
When you’re welding, it’s important to make sure you have the right gas. Argon also has a lower risk of fire or explosion than other gases, so it’s generally considered safer to use than other options.
Argon can be used in all classes of welding processes, including TIG, MIG, and Stick. The most common process is MIG because it requires a higher purity gas than other processes.
When using argon gas for welding, I recommend that you should have to use this in the form of a mixture according to weldable material requirements.
Using Shielding Gas in Welding
Shielding gas is a substance that protects the molten metal and the weld pool from oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen present in the atmosphere.
Shielding gases are generally composed of argon, helium, or carbon dioxide. The choice of shielding gas depends on the type of metal being welded.
The use of a proper shielding gas helps prevent oxidation, which can result in porosity in the welded joint. The presence of oxygen in an arc welding environment may also cause blowholes in the weld metal.
The presence of nitrogen causes porosity in aluminum alloys, which causes cracking and stress corrosion cracking. Using a proper shielding gas helps reduce these defects by reducing the number of impurities present during welding.
For most welding projects, I use argon with a mixture of carbon dioxide for better weld penetration.
Why do Welders Use Argon?
Welders use argon gas because it is inert, meaning it doesn’t react with other elements. This is important because the materials being welded can be very reactive, and if a different gas were used, it could become dangerous or cause corrosion.
Argon works by preventing oxidation during welding, which means that the welds will not rust or corrode when they are exposed to air. This is especially useful for welds that are exposed to the elements after they have been finished.
Argon also helps to reduce porosity in the welds so that they have a smooth surface and are less likely to crack or break under stress.
Because argon does not react with other elements, there is no chance for an explosion like there would be if helium were used instead; therefore, using argon is safer for both welders and materials alike.
What is Argon Gas Used for in Welding?
Argon gas is used in welding because it acts as a shielding gas. It is used to protect the molten metal from oxygen, which can cause oxidation.
Argon gas also helps to prevent carbon dioxide and hydrogen from forming as the weld cools down.
Argon gas is colorless and odorless, and it makes up about 1% of Earth’s atmosphere. Argon is inert, and it doesn’t react with most materials (except for the nitrogen found in the air).
Because of its inert properties and low cost, argon is used extensively in a variety of industries, including:
- Steel production
- Oil refining
- Glass blowing
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Chemical processing
- Food processing and more
What is the Purpose of Argon Gas in TIG Welding?
Argon gas is a safe, inert substance used in TIG welding to protect the weld from oxidation. While the weld cools down, the argon gas protects the molten metal from contact with air.
The argon gas also helps to stabilize the arc and increase its size, which makes it easier for you to see when you’re working with a narrow gap between your electrode and your workpiece.
You can even adjust the ionization of the arc by changing its flow rate, which will help you achieve better results overall.
Why is there a Need for Argon Regulator?
The Argon Regulator plays an important role in maintaining the necessary pressure levels needed for a successful weld.
It also helps keep any impurities from entering the system, which could result in poor-quality welds or even accidents involving fire or explosion.
What is the Size of the Argon Welding Tank?
The size of the Argon Welding Tank depends on what kind of welding you want to do.
For MIG and TIG welding, a standard tank is going to be between 20 and 30 cubic feet. This will give you enough space to fill up several bottles of gas or two bottles of large-capacity liquid argon.
If you’re welding with solid wire, you’ll need a larger tank, one that’s around 30-50 cubic feet.
You’ll also need to consider how much weight your tank is going to add to your welding set-up. If you’re using an air compressor, I suggest considering getting a larger tank so that the compressor doesn’t have to work too hard while working at high-pressure levels.
Argon Gas Welding Side Effects
The main side effect of this process is the inhalation of toxic fumes. Argon gas is an odorless and colorless gas that can be harmful if inhaled over long periods of time.
The most common symptoms include coughing and throat irritation, which may lead to breathing problems later on. Other symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, confusion and disorientation, and fever.
But don’t worry; if you follow the precautions while using argon gas for welding, you will save yourself from the argon gas side effects.
Different Gas Mixtures with Argon
1. Argon, Helium & CO2 Mixture:
This is a very common welding gas mixture. It’s used for welding in all positions and for all types of metals. This welding gas mixture is also called “mixed gas” or “tri-mix”.
The argon-helium-CO2 gas mixture consists of the following:
- Helium(90%), Argon (7.5%) % CO2 (2.5%)
- Helium(66%), Argon (26.5%) % CO2 (7.5%)
- Helium(66.1%), Argon (33%) % CO2 (0.9%)
This welding gas mixture has a high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient, so it’s suitable for use with mild steel and aluminum but not stainless steel or titanium.
The argon-helium-CO2 mixed gas is typically used with welding stainless steel, carbon steel & alloy steel.
2. Argon & Oxygen Mixture:
The first step in creating an Argon oxygen mixture is to add oxygen to your argon tank.
Typically you will want between 90 to 95% (argon) & 1 to 5% (oxygen).
This mixture is useful when welding stainless steel because it helps prevent porosity in your welds by raising their temperature and increasing their fluidity.
3. Pure Argon:
Pure argon is often used for welding applications where there’s no need for higher penetration rates or higher levels of strength.
For example, when working with low-carbon steel or aluminum alloys and for TIG welding. Pure argon has a lower density than Argon/CO2 mixes do, so it tends to create less porosity and give you cleaner welds overall.
4. Argon & CO2 Mixture:
Argon can be mixed with carbon dioxide (CO2) to create an inert gas mixture that reduces spatter and helps keep the weld clean while also providing an increased flow of oxygen to the arc zone, resulting in better penetration on thicker materials.
This mixture is commonly used when welding thick stainless steel sheets or other high-carbon alloys because they are difficult metals to penetrate with just pure argon alone. I recommend the best mixture for this is 75% argon & 25% CO2.
Precautions to Follow
Argon is a noble gas with many uses in the welding industry. It is used to shield welders from the harmful effects of other welding processes and to improve the quality of their welds.
In order to use argon for your welding projects, it is important to follow these precautions:
| No. | Precautions |
| 1. | Make sure that your equipment is in good working order before using argon. |
| 2. | Wear protective gear that includes gloves, a welding helmet, goggles, and a breathing mask at all times when working with argon. |
| 3. | Check your equipment regularly for leaks and fix them immediately if you find one! |
| 4. | Do not use argon gas in closed areas without proper ventilation, as it may cause suffocation. |
| 5. | Keep all flammable materials away from your work area as they can ignite easily due to heat produced by the welding equipment during use. |
Conclusion!
This article provides detailed information on argon for welding characteristics and applications, explains why it is used in producing welds, how to recognize and avoid health hazards posed by exposure to argon at the workplace, and gives suggestions for abatement. It was developed primarily for workers who regularly use argon.
In this, I have mentioned all the important detail about argon during welding projects. I suggest following this article’s guidelines regarding the use of argon gas for your next welding project.
FAQs:
Can I use 100 argon for MIG welding?
Yes, you can use 100% argon for MIG welding. Argon is a great shielding gas for aluminum and stainless steel applications. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative to Helium, Argon would be it!
What is 100% argon used for in welding?
100% Argon is used for shielding to protect the weld pool and molten metal from contamination by oxygen, hydrogen, or nitrogen. As a shielding gas, 100% argon ensures minimum splatter, no spatter, and no porosity. It also reduces heat-affected zone, which means faster cleaning time between welds. Normally, it is used to MIG/ TIG weld steel.
Can you weld without argon?
Welding without argon is possible, but it’s not recommended. Argon gas is an inert gas, making it chemically and electrically nonreactive. This results in less spatter that can potentially cause weld defects, so shielding gas is always recommended when welding.
How much is a tank of argon?
It really depends on how large your tank is but generally at the price of $200 to $400 per tank. One tank will last you between 3-4 months.
Is argon welding safe?
Argon welding is safe when used correctly. Always use approved argon gas bottles and regulators, and never mix gases. Check your safety gear before each use, and make sure your facemask has no holes or sharp edges that could tear a hole in the filter.
