Not
all metals can be processed without effort by welding procedures; there
are some with very high conductivity properties that accumulate and
generate heat almost instantly: it is the case of aluminum and
magnesium. These metals came to be used only as late as the 1940s by
means of special welding procedures known as MIG welding that has now
been largely replaced by the process known as tungsten inert gas or tig
welding. Presently, tig welding is used for almost all aluminum
workpieces that require exemplary execution. The electric arc is formed
between a tungsten electrode and the metal surface, the result being a
very clean weld without any signs of oxidation whatsoever.
Tig
welding is an automatic or semi-automatic process that allows the
creation of continuous long and durable welds that wouldn't be possible
otherwise. The best gas shield required by tig welding is helium, argon
or their mixture since, in association, these two chemicals increase
the welding speed and the power of the process for deep workpiece
usage. However, argon is welders' favorite gas where tig welding is
concerned; the explanation for this preference lies in the density of
the gas – heavier than air - and its high quality coverage.
Why
is the presence of the inert gas so important for tig welding? The flow
of argon passes through the welding device simultaneously with the
electrode, and during the process it acts as a shield against various
contaminants present in the atmosphere that may affect one way or the
result of the procedure. To put it in simple words, the argon keeps the
air away from the weld area. Though tig welding can presently be used
to create all sorts of very fine welds, steel and aluminum are still
the metals the most widely associated with the tungsten inert gas
procedure.
The
pieces of equipment also need to be adjusted to the requirements of tig
welding; for instance there are several types of joints especially
created for the purpose. We could mention t-joints, corner joints, lap
and butt joints here, some of them need a filler rod, some others
don't. The independent form is the butt joint where the pieces of metal
are connected along the seams. The use of each the above in tig welding
processes involves different types of seams and placings of the metal
pieces. Good knowledge of process specificity is an absolute must here.
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