Are you looking for the types of welding gas you should know about but don’t? Then this article is for you.
Welding gases are commonly used for several different types of welding but vary in terms of their specific functions.
In this article, you shall learn about the types of welding gases, how to use them in welding, and much more. Keep reading!
Types Of Welding Gas
Welding gases are used in the manufacturing and joining of different metals. They are used in a variety of welding processes, including shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and gas metal arc welding. There are many types of welding gases. The following are:
- Argon
- Helium
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide
- Hydrogen
- Acetylene
- Propane
- Propylene
I usually use a shielding gas containing argon or helium to protect the weld zone from contamination and minimize porosity, or a cutting gas (oxygen), which allows the arc to cut through metal.
In the remaining article, I will explain these gas uses in detail with reference to different welding procedures.
What is the Most Common Gas Used in Welding?
The most common gas used in welding is argon. It’s used because it’s inert, meaning that it doesn’t react with other chemicals and can be mixed with other gases.
Argon is also very cheap compared to other gases, making it a good choice for home welders who are just starting out.
Because of its inert properties, argon is often used as a shielding gas when welding aluminum or stainless steel (two metals that are prone to corrosion).
Argon also has a very low percentage of oxygen, making it easier to see what you’re doing while welding. This is especially important if you’re new to welding and trying to learn how to do so properly!
8 Welding Gas Types
Welding gas is a mixture of inert gases that flows through the nozzle of a gas torch to protect the weld from oxidation.
The most common types of welding gas are:
1. Helium:
Helium is the most common inert gas used in welding. It is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and it’s used to protect the weld from oxidation by removing oxygen from the flame.
It also helps prevent porosity (tiny holes in the metal) by reducing oxygen levels in the puddle.
2. Argon:
Argon is another popular inert gas used during welding, and it’s often paired with helium to create a mixed gas.
Argon helps to shield the molten metal from oxidizing elements in the air so your weld won’t turn brittle or crack when exposed to air after cooling down. Normally, I recommend argon for TIG, and you may use argon for MIG as a shielding gas.
3. Nitrogen:
The most common type of welding gas, nitrogen, has a lot of applications that include arc welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and plasma cutting.
Nitrogen is also essential for brazing, which uses a torch to heat metal parts until they fuse together.
4. Oxygen:
Oxygen is used in other types of welding, like laser beam welding and electron beam welding, because it helps start the burn process when you weld with those processes.
5. Carbon Dioxide:
Carbon dioxide is an inert gas that doesn’t react with other materials, making it ideal for use with all kinds of metals. It’s also easy to handle and store because it’s non-flammable and doesn’t produce any toxic fumes.
CO2 is mixed with argon or helium to create shielding gases. These gases protect the molten metal from oxidizing before reaching the arc zone of the weld.
They also prevent hot slag from sticking to the base material during the cooling process after welding has finished.
6. Hydrogen:
Hydrogen is a lighter gas that’s used for certain types of welding. It produces more heat than carbon dioxide, which can be helpful if you’re working with particularly thick materials.
But it also evaporates more quickly than carbon dioxide, so you’ll need to replenish your tank more often when you’re using hydrogen. I recommend using hydrogen with argon & CO2 & try to avoid hydrogen misuse.
7. Acetylene:
Acetylene is a colorless gas that’s also used in generators and oxyacetylene torches. It’s known for its high heat output, which makes it ideal for welding thick materials like steel. However, this gas is highly combustible and can be dangerous if not handled properly.
8. Propane:
Propane is another colorless, odorless gas that’s used in torches, but unlike acetylene, it isn’t combustible. Propane provides a consistent low-heat flame that works well for thin materials like aluminum.
Gas Mixtures for Welding
Gas mixtures are used to generate heat in the welding process. The type of gas mixture used depends on the type of welding being performed. In this, I will show you some of the gas mixtures for welding projects:
1) Argon/ Helium/ CO2:
Argon/ helium/ CO2 gas mixtures are the most common welding gases used in the industry.
They are often the best choice for welding because they provide a stable arc, high-quality welds, and minimal droplet size. Argon is an inert gas that does not react with oxygen or other elements.
Helium is also an inert gas that increases arc stability and reduces droplet size. CO2 is a nonreactive gas that helps to reduce spatter and slag during welding.
Argon/ helium/ CO2 gas mixtures are used in most applications, including gas metal arc welding & flux-cored arc welding for steel/ stainless steel. The mixture ratio depends on the material being welded and its thickness.
2) Argon/ Helium:
The argon/helium mix is a commonly used gas mixture for welding. The mixture consists of 80% argon and 20% helium.
Argon is an inert gas that shields the weld puddle, while helium helps keep the arc stable by reducing spatter in the weld pool.
The argon/helium gas mixture has a lower thermal conductivity than other gases, which makes it ideal for welding stainless steel, nickel alloys, and other metals with high thermal conductivity.
If you want to weld aluminum with GMAW or aluminum/ stainless steel with GTAW, then I highly recommend this mixture.
3) Argon/ CO2:
It is a common gas mixture used for welding. It is an inert gas blend that provides an ideal atmosphere for welding because it helps protect the weld pool from oxidation and the formation of slag.
The mixture consists of 20% CO2 and 80% argon. The CO2 lowers the weld current while allowing more heat to be transferred to the weld pool, which leads to faster heating and cooling rates.
Argon, which has no effect on heat transfer or electrode consumption, is used as a carrier gas to provide additional shielding against oxidation and slag formation.
This mixture is recommended for welding carbon steel with gas-metal arc welding & flux-cored arc welding.
4) Argon/ Oxygen:
Argon/O2 gas mixture is the most common gas used for welding. It is a combination of argon and oxygen, which are inert gases. The flow rate of argon/oxygen can be adjusted as per requirement.
Argon/oxygen is also known as an “argon-oxygen mix”. This gas mixture is used for welding carbon steel/ stainless steel using gas-metal arc welding.
5) Argon/ CO2/ Hydrogen:
The argon-carbon dioxide-hydrogen mixture is commonly used for welding and brazing. It has a low thermal conductivity, which reduces heat loss and allows the weld to be made hotter without burning through the base material.
The temperature that can be reached with this mixture is approximately 2300 degrees Fahrenheit (1260 degrees Celsius). You can use this gas mixture for MIG welding stainless steel.
6) Argon/ Hydrogen:
This is a common gas mixture used in welding. It has a very low thermal conductivity, which makes it an excellent choice for use with TIG welding austenitic steel.
A mixture of 95% Argon and 5% Hydrogen can be used to weld alloys of copper and its alloys.
In this case, the high percentage of Argon ensures that the weld is strong and ductile. The low hydrogen content minimizes porosity in the finished product.
7) Argon/ C02/ Oxygen:
The Argon/C02/Oxygen mixture is the most widely used welding gas because it’s easy to use and provides a stable arc. It’s also safe to use with a variety of metals.
The argon protects the weld from oxidation, while the carbon dioxide helps create a smooth bead that minimizes porosity and slag. You can also use this mixture for GMAW for welding stainless steel/ carbon steel.
Reasons to Use Gas in Welding
When you’re welding, the gas you use can make a big difference in the quality of your welds. Here are some reasons why:
- It is more efficient. Using gas in welding allows you to complete the job quickly, which means that you save time and money.
- It helps to reduce spatter, which can make it easier for you to see your work. This also helps you to achieve a better quality weld.
- It improves the quality of your welds by ensuring that they are cleaner and less likely to contain defects.
- It helps to protect the weld from contamination by un-ionized molecules, which can cause porosity and reduce strength.
- The use of gas in welding reduces the chances of fires occurring during the welding process, which can be dangerous for those involved and costly for businesses.
How Can you Use Gas with Safety?
There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re safe when welding.
First, make sure that your gas is at the right pressure. If it’s too high, it could leak into the air and cause an explosion.
Second, make sure that you don’t have any leaks in your gas tank, and if there’s a hole or crack in the tank and you fill it with gas, there could be a fire or explosion!
Third, make sure that you don’t use too much fuel. This can cause an explosion as well! Finally, if you’re using a torch/welder with a hose attached to it (instead of one connected directly to the tank), be sure not to leave this hose exposed where it could come into contact with anything flammable, like wood or paper products.
Final Words!
In conclusion, if you are interested in welding and have never used a gas tank before, I would say go for it. Make sure you get the right one, though.
Now you have an idea about types of welding gas with their uses & know about different gas mixtures for welding.
You should also take proper care of it because anything that can cause an explosion should be taken seriously.
FAQs:
What are 2 types of MIG welding gas?
There are 2 types of MIG welding gas argon and helium. Argon is cheaper and more common, and helium is more expensive but produces better results.
Which gas is used in hot welding?
You can use air to hot weld, but it will be harder to do. Usually, an inert gas is used because it keeps the welds clean and prevents contamination of the part being welded.
What is inert gas for welding?
There are 3 main gases used in inert gas processes: argon, helium, and nitrogen.
What is flux in welding?
Flux is a substance that is used in molten metal to prevent the formation of oxides and slag, which is formed by oxidation. When you are welding, you want to achieve a smooth flow of metal through your weld puddle. Oxides and slag will interfere with this process, so it’s important to do everything you can to prevent them from forming.
What is the temperature of welding?
The temperature of welding or welder ranges from 400 to 2000 degrees Celsius. The temperature of melting the weld material is 100 degrees Celsius, and its range is between 600 and 1200 degrees Celsius.
