Calibration gas regulator online store UK: Helium / argon mixtures are sometimes used for their higher heat characteristics. Gas mixtures, usually 25% helium and 75% argon are sometimes used and can help to increase travel speeds when AC – gas tungsten arc welding. Mixtures of more than 25% helium for AC – gas tungsten arc welding are used, but not often, as they can tend to produce instability, under certain circumstances, in the AC arc. Pure helium or high percentages of helium (He-90%, Ar-10%) shielding gas are used primarily for gas tungsten arc machine welding with direct current electrode negative (DCEN). Often designed as seam welders, the combination of GTAW – DCEN and the high heat input from the gas used can provide fast welding speeds and outstanding penetration. This configuration is sometimes used to produce full penetration butt welds, welded from one side only, onto temporary baking with no vee-groove preparation, just a square edged plate.

Why is argon the specialist gas of choice when welding? In the manufacturing industry, when welding you know the importance of shielding gases. But do you know some gases are more preferable than others? More importantly, do you know why? The entire purpose of shielding gases is to prevent the welding area from atmospheric elements. Such exposure could leave you with a sub-optimal weld. If elements do come into contact with the welding area, it can reduce the overall quality which could jeopardise the whole operation.

WSD (weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk) supplies a wide range of shielding gases specifically designed to optimise performance in particular conditions. In vehicle repair and manufacturing, argon-based gas mixtures are commonly used to MIG weld carbon and low alloy steels. Argoshield Light is one of those choices. It’s ideal if you are welding thinner carbon steel ranging from 0.6 to 5mm in thickness. The addition of oxygen to Argoshield increases arc stability to minimise spatter and fast weld speeds with its low heat input reduce distortion. So it’s perfect for our earlier example where the components of a car are being painted or powder coated after welding. See extra info on Hydrogen Calibration gas.

The normal gas for TIG welding is argon (Ar). Helium (He) can be added to increase penetration and fluidity of the weld pool. Argon or argon/helium mixtures can be used for welding all grades. In some cases, nitrogen (N2) and/or hydrogen (H2) can be added to achieve special properties. For instance, the addition of hydrogen gives a similar, but much stronger, effect as adding helium. However, hydrogen additions should not be used for welding martensitic, ferritic or duplex grades. Alternatively, if nitrogen is added, the weld deposit properties of nitrogen alloyed grades can be improved. Oxidizing additions are not used because these destroy the tungsten electrode. Zero calibration gas is a gas that does not contain flammable gas. You will need this gas in the calibration of analyser’s or gas detectors. Span calibration gases are a more advanced type of calibration gas. They contain a more precise total make up of detectable gases.

CO is by far the more hazardous of the two gases. It can cause a reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood that can be fatal. In lower concentrations it causes headache and dizziness, nausea and weakness. CO2 acts mainly as an asphyxiant, as indicated above. CO has a short-term exposure limit (15-minute reference period) of 200ppm and a long-term limit (8-hour reference period) of 30ppm. From above, the values for CO2 are 15000 and 5000ppm for the short-and long-term reference periods respectively. Source: https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/.