Applications

• Argon shielding gases have a significant effect on welded metals. Weld quality, weld appearance, smoothness and ease of operation all depend on the shielding gas that is employed. Shielding gases surround welding electrodes, streaming down on a workload as the electrode creates welds. The shielding gas stabilizes welding arcs, preventing contamination at the welding point.
  
  

Combinations

• Different styles of welding call for different argon gas combinations. MIG welding applications involve using argon, argon/oxygen, argon/carbon dioxide or argon/helium combination shielding gases. TIG welding applications call for argon, argon/hydrogen or argon/helium shielding gas combinations.
  
  

Benefits

• Argon is an inexpensive gas, which has contributed to its widespread use in welding. Argon gas also provides the greatest cleaning action of any gas that can be used in the welding process. It has the greatest ability of any gas to keep welding arcs stable while welding. When helium or oxygen are used in tandem with argon, the result is a shielding gas that offers improved welding penetration.