Inert gases are unreactive elements including helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Inert gas welding uses an electric arc and an inert gas to protect the weld from oxidation. MIG welding uses a consumable electrode while TIG welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode. MIG welding is less expensive but messier, while TIG welding is more expensive but produces cleaner welds. Inert gas welding is faster and produces longer seam welds but requires indoor use and is less portable.
Inert gases, or noble gases, are the gaseous elements in the helium group of the periodic table that are considered chemically unreactive. These gases, which do not form chemical compounds, are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon. Inert gas welding is a welding process that uses an inert gas to protect the weld during the welding process.
During the welding process, an electric arc is ignited between the electrode on the welding equipment and the workpiece. This arc creates heat that melts the edges of the metal pieces being joined, as well as any consumable electrodes used, forming the weld joint. Gases used in inert gas welding include argon, helium, carbon dioxide, or a combination of gases such as argon and oxygen.
Inert gas welding of metals (MIG) uses a consumable electrode, or solid electrical conductor, made of filler wire. An electric arc is formed between the electrode and the sheet to be welded. An inert gas surrounds the weld protecting it from oxidation. This method works with carbon steels, low alloy steels, stainless steels, and most aluminum, copper, and zinc alloys. MIG welding can be used to weld metals with thicknesses ranging from two-tenths to one-quarter inch (5 mm to 6.3 mm).
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode. Unlike MIG welding, tungsten welding does not require a filler material. This method can be used on the same metals as MIG welding, but does a better job of welding dissimilar metals together. One advantage of TIG welding is that it can join workpieces as thin as five hundredths of an inch (125mm).
The location and aesthetic importance of the weld will help determine which form of shielding gas welding to use for a particular application. MIG welding is less expensive and does not require a high level of operator skill. Welding is messier, however, due to the use of consumable electrode or filler material. If the weld is in a visible area, MIG welding is generally not recommended because it causes a lot of spatter that needs to be sanded or filled.
TIG welding is a little more expensive than MIG welding, but is the recommended method if appearance is important. There is no spatter when welding because the non-consumable tungsten electrode uses no filler material. This method requires a higher level of operator training and expertise. Argon is the most commonly used gas for TIG welding.
Inert gas welding has been used since the 1940s and is faster than traditional welding methods. It can produce cleaner, longer seam welds, especially with thinner materials. A disadvantage of this form of welding is that the equipment is less portable and more expensive than other gas welders. Another limitation is that inert gas welding must be done indoors and not in an open area where wind can interfere with the gas shield.
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