Shielding gas is a gas that helps shield welders from the ultraviolet radiation of the electric arc. Shielding gas can also help contain arc welding contamination and prevent it from being deposited in the weld area. Generally, the arc tungsten electrode that creates an electrical spark will form a gas core around it, giving you a heat source to melt the base material.
MIG shielding gas is a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide used by MIG welders to protect the molten metal from elements other than the metal itself. The goal is to create a constant shielding that prevents air from entering the weld pool and causing porosity or cracks. While this is still possible, it will be minimised with proper shielding gas setup.
Contents
Use
MIG (Metal Inert Gas) shielding gas is used by various industries to reduce the fire hazards associated with welding. It is mainly used to prevent the formation of hydrogen when dissimilar metals are joined together. It also helps prevent oxidation. MIG shielding gases are inert substances such as argon, helium or carbon dioxide absorbed in an oxygen carrier like air.
Mig welding has become one of the most popular methods since its introduction in the late 1940s. This shielding gas is used in automotive and agricultural MIG welders. This gas is used to protect the welding wire as it comes out of the gun and transfers through to the tip of a welding machine.
Mig shielding gas is mainly used to protect the weld zone from harmful elements in the atmosphere while you do your welding. The oxygen and carbon dioxide in ambient air can cause cracks in the weld, but with a good shielding gas, you get nice clean beads with no damage! Mig welding with less cleaning time, lower overall costs and better quality.
The purpose of this gas is to safeguard the weld pool from oxidising and reducing conditions. These gases can be used in all welding processes, including SMAW and gas tungsten arc welding. Choosing the suitable shielding gas for your application can mean the difference between a good weld and a bad one that leads to cracks and other defects in the finished product.
Welding
MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and flux-cored arc welding processes use a metal wire electrode, high voltage and shielding gas to complete the weld puddle. The metal wire is fed through a gun and kept in contact with a grounded metal workpiece by spring tension in the feed cable. When the metal wire touches the metal being welded, an arc starts. As the metal wire passes through the workpiece, it releases deposition-resistant slag that covers the area where it’s been fed into the weld puddle. This helps prevent contamination of the adjacent regions during welding.
Fabrication
MIG welding is a popular process in metal parts fabrication. MIG is used to weld materials such as steel, aluminium and stainless steel. Shielding gas can reduce the spatter or splatter of molten metal on the weld puddle surface during welding so that it does not interfere with subsequent operations and reduce the need for cleaning after welding by reducing contamination.
Considerations
If you are planning to start with MIG welding and need a Mig Shielding Gas, you should know the different types of protection against harmful gases and fumes. There are two types of MIG welding gasses available: CO2 and Argon. Argon is commonly used as it has better thermal conductivity than carbon dioxide (CO2). Argon makes the arc more intense, with more penetration into the piece being welded.
