Shielding Gases for

Welding Stainless Steels

Glenn Allen IWE

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

The material contained in this powerpoint

presentation has kindly been supplied by:

Bob Eden, EngTech TechWeldI,

Technical Support Engineer, BOC

robert.eden@boc.com 07717 480910

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Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

Copyright © TWI Ltd 2015

 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Shielding Gas affects

 Shielding effect

 Welding Speed

 Corrosion and mechanical properties

 Arc stability

 Weld profile

 Surface appearance

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 No single gas has an optimum suitability for all

shielding applications.

 Different gases exhibit different characteristics

that can be used to influence the welding ard and
deposited weld metal.

 Each component of a shielding gas mixture is

carefully selected to provide optimum benefits, in
quantities from 0.05% - 100%.

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Gas Components

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Thermal Conductivity of shielding gas components

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Effects of gases on welds

 Helium
 Broader/deeper penetration profile
 Increased deposition rates
 Flatter weld beads
 May decrease arc stability
 Hydrogen
 Deeper penetration
 Increased deposition rates
 Mainly used for austenitics (to avoid hydrogen
cracking)
 Advantages of CO2 compared to O2
 Better penetration
 Increased deposition rates

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 MIG / MAG Welding

 Oxidising components are added to Argon

to stabilise the arc (2-4% CO2, 1-2%O2)
 Excessive oxidation will occur on
‘stainless steels’ with more than these
levels.
 Excessive He can cause arc instability.

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Effects on arc stability

 Argon Argon + 2.5% CO2

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Effects of Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide & Helium

Ar + 2%O2 Ar + 2.5%CO2 Ar + 2%CO2 +38%He

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 TIG welding; Effects of He & H2

100% Ar Ar + 50%He 100% He

100% Ar Ar + 5%H2 Ar + 15%H2

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 TIG welding; Effects of H2 on profile

 Same parameters

Argon Argon + H2

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 TIG welding; Effects of H2 on profile

 Increased speed

Argon Argon + H2

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 TIG welding; Effects of Helium on profile

 Same parameters

Argon Argon + 30%He Argon + 50%He

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 TIG welding; Effects of Helium on profile

 Increased speed

Argon Argon + He

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Corrosion Resistant properties

 Oxidizing components may decrease corrosion

resistance
 Loss of alloying elements

 Increase in surface oxides

 Hydrogen reduces surface oxide formation

 Nitrogen increases corrosion resistance

(pitting)
 Nitrogen alloyed stainlesses, ie Duplexes

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Influence of gases on oxide formation, TIG

Argon Ar + 1.5% H2 Ar + 5% H2

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Influence of gases on oxide formation, MAG

Ar + 2% O2 Ar + 2.5% CO2 Ar + 2% CO2 + 38% He

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Influence of shielding gas on Distortion.

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 Shielding Gases for Stainless Steels

 Consult your gas supplier!

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 Copyright

Presentation prepared by TWI for the

Stainless Steel – Quality Fabrication Seminar

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All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be

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End of presentation
Any Questions

glenn.allen@twi.co.uk
bob.eden@boc.com

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