What gas is used for gas shielded welding?
Gas shielded welding (gas shielded welding) is a common welding method that improves welding quality by using shielding gas to protect the welding area from air contamination. Different welding materials and processes require different shielding gases. This article will introduce in detail the gases commonly used in gas shielded welding and their applicable scenarios to help you better choose the appropriate gas.
1. Commonly used gas types in gas shielded welding

The commonly used protective gases in gas shielded welding mainly include inert gases and active gases. Inert gases such as argon (Ar) and helium (He) do not participate in the welding reaction, while reactive gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) react with the molten pool.
| Gas type | Gas name | chemical symbol | Main features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inert gas | Argon | Ar | High stability, suitable for welding stainless steel, aluminum and other materials |
| Inert gas | Helium | He | High thermal conductivity, suitable for thick plate welding |
| reactive gas | carbon dioxide | CO₂ | Low cost, suitable for carbon steel welding |
| reactive gas | oxygen | O₂ | Usually mixed with other gases to improve welding efficiency |
2. Gas selection for different welding materials
Different welding materials have different requirements for shielding gas. The following are gas selection recommendations for common materials:
| welding materials | Recommended gas | Mixing ratio (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| carbon steel | CO₂ or Ar+CO₂ mixed gas | Ar:CO₂ = 75:25 or 80:20 |
| stainless steel | Ar or Ar+CO₂ mixture | Ar:CO₂ = 98:2 or 95:5 |
| Aluminum and aluminum alloys | Ar or Ar+He mixture | Ar:He = 50:50 or 70:30 |
| Copper and copper alloys | Ar or Ar+He mixture | Ar:He = 50:50 or 30:70 |
3. Advantages of Mixed Gases
In actual welding, a single gas may not meet all needs, so the use of mixed gases is becoming more and more common. The following are the main advantages of gas mixtures:
1.Improve welding quality: Mixed gas can combine the advantages of different gases. For example, Ar+CO₂ mixed gas can ensure stability and improve penetration.
2.Reduce costs: The cost of pure argon gas is higher, and mixed gas can reduce the overall cost.
3.Adaptable: The proportion of mixed gas can be adjusted according to different materials and processes, and the application range is wider.
4. Precautions for selecting gas shielded welding gas
When selecting gas shielded welding gas, you should pay attention to the following points:
1.Material matching: Select the appropriate gas or gas mixture according to the welding materials.
2.Process requirements: Different welding processes (such as MIG welding, TIG welding) have different gas requirements.
3.cost control: On the premise of ensuring quality, choose gas with high cost performance.
4.security: Certain gases (such as CO₂) may be harmful to the human body at high concentrations. Pay attention to ventilation and protection.
5. Summary
The gas selection for gas shielded welding directly affects the welding quality and efficiency. Inert gases are suitable for high-demand materials such as stainless steel and aluminum, while reactive gases such as CO₂ are more suitable for carbon steel welding. The use of mixed gases offers a compromise between performance and cost and is a common choice in modern welding. I hope that through the introduction of this article, you can better understand the selection principles of gas shielded welding gas and provide a reference for practical work.
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