Welding Gases and Thermal Process Gases

Welding g gases and thermal process gases are specialized gases for welding, cutting or other thermal processing applications. Welding and thermal processing gases include acetylene, propylene, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, hydrogen, and methylacetylene-propadiene or MAPP gas. Oxyacetylene is a mixture of acetylene and oxygen used in cutting applications because it can produce a very hot flame.

Welding g gases and thermal process gases are often used in conjunction with oxygen. This is known as oxy-fuel welding and is the most common type of welding and cutting. Welding g gases and thermal process gases used to weld or cut metals also include shielding gases that are used to protect the weld area from atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. A shielding gas is a semi-inert or inert gas such as helium or argon. Argon welding gas is the most cost-effective welding gas. Shielding gases are used in indoor gas arc welding applications to limit the possible dispersion of the welding gas by any atmospheric conditions.

Welding gases and thermal process gases are used in gas metal arc welding, which is commonly known as MIG welding. MIG welding gas is a shielding gas, used to stabilize the arc on the metal that is being welded and shield the arc and the molten metal from atmospheric gases. MIG welding was originally developed to weld non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, but is now commonly used to weld steel. Gas tungsten arc welding is known as TIG welding. TIG welding gas is also a shielding gas such as an argon/helium mixture or an argon/hydrogen mixture. TIG welding is used on thin metals because it produces a steady arc and high quality welds. Arc welding uses a power supply to create an electric arc between an electrode and a base on the welding equipment. Arc welding is used to melt many different types of metal. Welding and thermal processing gases are specified based upon the type of welding, and other material parameters such as thickness and alloy composition.

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