Basic Shielding Gases

Combining versatility with the benefits of easy arc starts.

Used as a shielding gas, argon is characterised by a high ionization potential, enabling considerable current loading. It is a base component of most shielding mixtures and a shielding gas used for TIG welding of various steel grades, as well as MIG welding of some high-alloy steels. Moreover, argon is frequently applied as a forming gas for all types of materials. High-purity argon (99.995% Ar) is used for TIG and MIG welding (also as a forming gas) of metals and alloys sensitive to oxygen and nitrogen at low temperatures (from 200°C). High purity of the shielding gas with a guaranteed content of impurities helps greatly reduce the material's susceptibility to brittleness and cracking.

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Deep weld penetration. Used less and less frequently as a shielding gas for MAG welding due to lower welding speeds as well as high levels of spatter, dust and fumes, inferior mechanical properties of the joint, and restricted possibilities of transferring metal in the arc.

Benefits at a Glance

• Good joint penetration ensuring a deep weld profile
• Due to high density, this gas is less sensitive to air movement in the welding area.

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CORGON^® 10 is a two-component mixture comprising 90% argon and 10% carbon dioxide. This is a good general-purpose shielding gas for MAG welding of carbon and steel alloys. The amount of spatter and slag islands produced by CORGON^® 10 are low, making it ideal for applications where post-weld cleaning must be kept to a minimum. By saving time, it cuts manufacturing costs. Low surface oxidation also makes it suitable for applications that require post-weld painting.

CORGON^® 10 can be used manually or with robotic or automatic equipment and is best suited to material thicknesses between 1 and 8mm, although it can be used successfully outside this band.

Benefits at a Glance

• Reduced post-weld cleaning with minimal slag on weld surface
• Low surface oxidation for enhanced paintability and reduced clean-up time  

CORGON^® 18 is a two-component mixture comprising 82% argon and 18% carbon dioxide. This mixture produces welds with very good penetration and sidewall fusion, especially when dealing with thicker materials. This reduces the number of defects in the weld, cutting down on rejected components. The high CO2 content helps curbs surface contamination from oil, moisture or rust. This reduces pre-weld cleaning and general manufacturing costs.
Ideal for both dip and spray applications, CORGON^® 18 was specifically developed for MAG welding of carbon and steel alloys across a range of material thicknesses, particularly in the 5 to 12mm range. It can be used manually or with robotic or automatic equipment.

Benefits at a Glance

• Good penetration profile for reduced reject rates
• Good fusion characteristics for stronger joints
• Reduced prep work and reworking through effective action on surface contamination.

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CORGON^® 25 is a two-component mixture comprising 75% argon and 25% carbon dioxide. This mixture is used for Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) of steel and stainless steel, producing lower levels of fume and spatter than pure carbon dioxide. This translates into a healthier workplace environment.

Benefits at a Glance

• Good penetration for greater weld depth

• Good fusion characteristics for improved weld properties.

CORGON^® S5 is a two-component mixture containing 95% argon and 5% oxygen. Oxygen is characterized by low ionization energy and helps produce a stable welding arc. Its presence reduces surface tension and results in a more fluid weld pool, thus reducing the risk of incomplete fusion, and allowing to increase welding speeds. The significant oxidation potential of oxygen is 2-3 times higher than that of CO2, causing the formation of oxides and burn-out of alloy materials. It may, however, cause difficulties while welding out of position.

CORGON 5S2 is a three-component mixture comprising 93% argon, 5% carbon dioxide and 2% oxygen. This three-part shielding gas is designed predominantly for welding thinner materials. The low levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the weld reduce the likelihood of through-burns and holes in the weld area.

The addition of oxygen improves the flow of the molten weld metal, resulting in flatter welds with lower levels of reinforcement. This can greatly reduce the need to machine or grind down the reinforcement – which typically raises stress levels. All of which translates into lower production costs.

This mixture was specifically developed for MAG welding of carbon and steel alloys across a range of material thicknesses. CORGON 5S2 can be used manually or with robotic or automatic equipment and is best suited to material thicknesses between 0.7 and 6mm, although it can be used successfully outside this band.

Benefits at a Glance

–   Excellent arc stability with minimum spatter for shorter clean-up times and less welding wire

–   Ideal for welding components that are painted or powder-coated after welding

–   Reduced likelihood of through-burns and holes in the weld area thanks to low levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen

–   Improved molten weld metal flow for flatter welds and lower levels of reinforcement

–   Reduced welding distortion thanks to faster welding speeds and low heat input.

CORGON^® 12S2 is a three-component mixture comprising 86% argon, 12% carbon dioxide and 2% oxygen.

CRONIGON^® 2 is a two-component mixture comprising 97.5% argon and 2.5% carbon dioxide. Its lower oxidation potential reduces the need for aggressive chemical cleaning agents. This lowers manufacturing costs and shortens production processes.

This mixture is used for MAG welding across a wide variety of stainless steel alloys. It can be used in all transfer modes. The ideal operating range is between 1 and 8mm, although it can be used successfully outside this band.

Benefits at a Glance

• Low spatter for reduced post-weld cleaning and wire consumption

• Lower surface oxidation

• Enhanced surface quality – similar to that obtainable with helium mixtures

• Reduced clean-up time with the option of less aggressive cleaning methods

• Easier to use than argon and oxygen mixtures, resulting in few operator-related defects

• Lower cost relative to helium mixtures.

CRONIGON^® S2 is a two-component mixture containing 98% argon and 2% oxygen. It is a shielding gas designed for MAG welding of high-alloy steels using spray transfer mode. It ensures stable arc burning and reduces surface tension of liquid metal, which helps produce a smooth weld profile. Compared with Ar + 2,5%CO2, it produces slightly more surface slag. It is not recommended when high purity of the weld face is required.

Nitrogen is used as a shielding gas additive applied for TIG welding of super-austenitic and super-duplex steels. These are nitrogen-alloyed steel grades aiming to offer improved mechanical properties and enhanced resistance to pitting corrosion. With a few percent content of nitrogen in a shielding gas, loss of this element from base material can be avoided. Nitrogen with a 10% addition of hydrogen is usually applied as a root shield, offering a good reducing effect. Moreover, as a pure gas used for shielding the root during welding of super-austenitic and super-duplex steels, it enhances resistance to pitting corrosion. It is also acceptable for welding unalloyed and low-alloy steels.

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