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Choosing shielding gases for arc welding

How gas selection affects quality and productivity

THE FABRICATOR® SEPTEMBER 2007

September 11, 2007

By: Fred Schweighardt

Proper selection of the shielding gas for gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas
tungsten arc welding (GTAW) processes can dramatically improve speed, quality, and deposition rate of a given
weldment.

Bead and penetration profile, alloying content, and surface appearance

can be improved with the right gas mix.

Welding operators often overlook shielding gases and their individual

contributions to the welding process. Shielding gases can influence metal
transfer mode, alloy content, bead shape, fume generation, and many
other weld characteristics.

Proper selection of the shielding gas for gas metal arc welding (GMAW),
flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
processes can improve speed, quality, and deposition rate of a given
weldment dramatically (see Figure 1).

Pure Gases
Pure gases used for welding include argon, helium, and carbon dioxide. These gases can have both positive and
negative effects on the welding arc.

Argon. Argon is a monatomic (single-atom) gas commonly used for GTAW on all materials and GMAW on nonferrous
metals. Argon is chemically inert, making it suitable for welding on reactive or refractory metals.

This gas has a low thermal conductivity and ionization potential, properties that result in a low transfer of heat to the
outer areas of the arc. This forms a narrow arc column, which in turn creates the traditional pure argon penetration
profile: deep and relatively narrow (see Figure 2).

There is a slight tendency for undercutting or bead rollover caused by the lack of heat at the outer edges of the
puddle in both GTAW and GMAW. In the GMAW process, pure argon promotes spray transfer.

Helium. Helium also is a monatomic, inert gas, most commonly used for GTAW on nonferrous materials. In contrast
to argon, helium has a high conductivity and ionization potential, which gives the opposite effects. Helium provides a
wide profile (see Figure 3), good wetting on the edges of the bead, and higher heat input than pure argon.
The high ionization potential can create difficulty in arc starting unless high-frequency or capacitive arc starting is
used for GTAW. Somewhat higher flow rates are recommended because the gas tends to rise in air. Pure helium
promotes globular transfer and is rarely used for GMAW, with the exception of pure copper.

Carbon Dioxide. CO2 usually is used for GMAW short-circuit transfer and FCAW. CO 2 is a compound molecule with
fairly complex interactions in the arc column. The CO2 will disassociate into CO and O 2 at the temperatures
encountered in the arc. This creates the potential for oxidizing of the base metal and dealloying of the weld puddle or
bead.

Recombination of the CO/O2 gives a fairly wide penetration profile at the surface of the weld, while the low ionization
potential and thermal conductivity create a hot area at the center of the arc column. This tends to give the overall weld
a well-balanced width-to-depth penetration profile (see Figure 4). For GMAW applications, pure CO 2 is unable to
produce spray transfer, and it promotes globular transfer, which can cause a great deal of spatter.

Figure 1 A fabricator has a variety of

shielding gases to consider when arc
welding.

Other Gases Used in

Mixtures
Oxygen. Oxygen is a diatomic (two-
atom-molecule), active shielding gas
component usually used in GMAW mixes
at concentrations of less than 10 percent. Oxygen has a heat input potential resulting from both its ionization energy
and its energy of disassociation (energy liberated by the splitting of the molecule into individual atoms in the arc).

Oxygen creates a very wide and fairly shallow penetration profile, with high heat input at the surface of the work.
Since the high heat reduces the surface tension of the molten metal, spray transfer is facilitated, as well as wetting at
the toe of the weld. Oxygen/argon mixes exhibit a characteristic "nailhead" penetration profile with GMAW carbon
steel, which is the most common application. Oxygen also is used in trimixes with CO2 and argon, where it provides
the wetting and spray advantages.

Hydrogen. Hydrogen is a diatomic, active shielding gas component usually used in welding mixes at concentrations
of less than 10 percent.

Hydrogen is primarily used with austenitic stainless steels to promote oxide removal and increase heat input. As with
all of the diatomic molecules, a hotter, wider surface bead results. Hydrogen is not suitable for ferritic or martensitic
steels because of cracking issues. Penetration is increased as well.

Hydrogen also may be used in higher percentages (30 percent to 40 percent) in plasma cutting operations on
stainless steel to increase capacity and reduce slag.

Nitrogen. Nitrogen is the least commonly used addition for shielding purposes. It is mainly used for the promotion of
austenite and to improve corrosion resistance in duplex and superduplex steels.

Gas Mixtures
Many different gas mixtures are used in welding, depending on the process and material (see Figure 5).

GMAW, Carbon Steel. Most of the commonly used mixes for this material consist of argon/CO 2, argon/O 2, or all
three gases together.
In the argon/CO 2 mixes, the CO2 content varies from 5 percent to 25 percent. Mixes with little CO 2 usually are used
for spray transfer on heavy materials or when low heat input and shallow penetration are desired for thin materials.
High CO 2 content promotes short-circuit transfer and can provide additional cleaning action and deep penetration in
heavy materials (see Figure 6). However, increasing CO 2 content also means an increased rate of depletion of
alloying elements.

In the argon/O 2 mixes, oxygen percentage usually is between 2 and 5. These gases typically are used in spray
transfer on fairly clean materials (see Figure 7). Many structural steel fabricators use argon/O 2 mixes because they
allow for welding on lightly oxidized base metal. Oxygen-containing gases must be evaluated for their alloy depletion
potential, which can be significant in higher percentages.

Figure 2 The traditional pure argon penetration profile is deep and narrow.

The content of O 2 and CO2 tri-mixes is between 2 percent and 8 percent. Mixes of this
type work well in both spray transfer and short-circuit mode and may be used on many
material thicknesses. The oxygen tends to promote spray transfer at low voltages, while
the CO2 aids penetration. Trimixes containing argon, CO 2, and O2 enable short-circuit
and spray transfer modes at lower voltages than many argon/CO2 binary mixes.

GMAW, Stainless Steel. The most common gases for welding stainless steel are
argon/O 2 and helium/argon/ CO2 mixes. The argon/O2 blends tend to have about 2
percent oxygen and perform well in spray transfer if some weld discoloration can be
tolerated.

The trimixes are available in two major types: argon-rich and helium-rich. Helium-rich gases (about 90 percent
helium) are used for short-circuit transfer and include a small amount of argon for arc stabilization and a very small
amount of CO2 for penetration and cleaning. Argon-rich mixes tend to have about 80 percent argon and about 1
percent to 2 percent CO2 with the remainder helium. Argon-rich mixes traditionally are used for spray transfer, as the
high argon content allows spray transfer to occur at relatively low voltages and the helium gives good wetting, flat
bead profiles, and good color match.

GMAW, Aluminum. Aluminum GMAW usually is performed with pure argon, but if heavy sections are encountered,
helium may be added up to 75 percent. The helium allows for significantly better wetting than pure argon and a more
fluid puddle that allows more time for porosity-causing impurities to escape. Higher helium concentrations require
significantly more voltage to operate in spray transfer than 100 percent argon.

FCAW, Carbon and Stainless Steel. FCAW is most commonly performed with a gas consisting of 20 percent to 25
percent CO 2 with the balance argon. This mix allows for good arc performance: The CO2 provides penetration and
good slag formation, while the argon content tends to reduce fumes and smoke. Sometimes a portion of the CO2 is
replaced with helium to reduce fumes further.

Alloy depletion is less of a concern in FCAW because elements prone to the effects of CO 2 can be compensated for
in the flux composition during manufacture of the wire.

GTAW, Stainless and Aluminum. While pure argon is used for most GTAW processes on all materials, a number of
mixes are designed to assist penetration and wetting on aluminum and stainless. Most of these mixes are
argon/helium blends, with the helium content ranging from 10 percent to 75 percent. As in GMAW, this addition of
helium assists in wetting on heavy-section aluminum and stainless steel applications in which the sluggishness of the
molten pool is detrimental.

For 300 series stainless steels, gases are available that contain between 2 percent and 5 percent hydrogen. This
addition causes the completed weld to have a much better appearance .

Supply Systems
Shielding gas supply systems can affect the quality of the delivered gas in a variety of ways.

Pure Gas Supply Requirements. For delivery of the pure gases, four supply methods are most commonly used.

Figure 5 Different combinations of

welding processes and materials require
different combinations of welding gases.

Compressed-gas cylinders typically have

the most potential for contamination
because they are emptied and refilled
continually. Some gas providers use
cylinder valves with an integrated check
valve to help reduce problems with gas
purity. In addition, several grades of
compressed gas are available with
analyzed levels of impurities such as moisture, oxygen, and total hydrocarbons (THC).

Liquid cylinders, also known as dewars or VGLs, usually provide better-quality gas since the product is not vaporized,
compressed, and repackaged. Quality analysis may be available for these products as well.

Bulk liquid gases tend to have the highest purity because they come directly from a production facility to the user's
on-site storage.

Tube storage systems usually are trailer-mounted but may be ground-based bundles or skids. Empty trailers often are
changed out for a full system, or, like the ground-based models, may be refilled on-site, or "bumped."

Mixed Gas Supply Requirements. Some of the most common gas mixtures used for welding—argon/CO 2,
argon/O 2, and argon/helium—can be supplied by compressed-gas cylinders or a combination of storage systems.
Supply modes can be from large systems with all components supplied from liquid tanks, to individual cylinders of the
appropriate gas mix.

Gases coming from liquid bulk supply systems usually are combined in an industrial gas mixer to provide the proper
mix. Often the gas requirements for smaller fabricators are such that either liquid cylinders or packs of compressed
gas are used. Switchover manifolds on these components are available to automate and reduce the potential of
contamination.

Piping. The quality of the piping that carries the gas from the supply point to the arc is very important in maintaining
gas purity. In critical GTAW applications, 20 to 30 parts per million of moisture or oxygen can create an unacceptable
weld. For this type of application, welded stainless steel tube or pipe is ideal. High-quality compression fittings also
can be used with nearly identical results.

For ordinary-quality requirements, silver-brazed copper tube gives excellent results, particularly if the pipe system is
purged with nitrogen as it is brazed. Several composite piping systems, usually consisting of a layer of aluminum
between two layers of cross-linked polyethylene, are available and are very easy to install, with good-quality gas
delivery possible. Welded black iron piping can be used if care is taken to clean the inside thoroughly.
Figure 6 The argon/CO2 penetration profile can be adjusted by the amount of CO2
contained in the gas mixture.