Understanding the TIG Welding Process

Welding has been used for thousands of years (earliest records state that welding was used in the Bronze and Iron Ages) but in the past few centuries, there have been developments in welding to make it a much more manageable, cheaper and quicker process to do – the first of these being arc welding.

In the 21^st century, the TIG welding process is one that is used regularly for joinery and sculptural processes in metals, but was this process developed over the years? What are the significant aspects of TIG welding? What are the safety precautions that need to be taken into account?

How Does the TIG Welding Process Work?

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) or gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is a variation of arc welding that uses a tungsten non-consumable electrode and a filler metal to produce the weld. The weld area is protected by a shielding inert gas, which is traditionally either helium, argon or a mixture of the two – this is to prevent any porosity, fusion defects and metal embrittlement in the weld. A high frequency generator is used to produce the initial spark, the shielding gas ensures a stable arc between the electrode and the weld, the filler metal is traced with the electrode along the weld site and then the process is complete.

How Has the TIG Welding Process Developed?

The physical understanding of an electrical arc didn’t occur until the start of the 19^th century. A British chemist, Sir Humphrey Davy, discovered short pulsed electric arcs in 1800 and a Russian physicist, Vasily Petrov, discovered the continuous electric arc in 1802. However, it wasn’t until 1881 when arc welding was first developed and presented at the International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris. From this initial concept, arc welding became increasingly popular during World War I for shipbuilding, replacing riveted steel plates.

After decades of development and understanding how to prevent brittleness and porosity of welds, TIG welding was perfected in 1941, allowing for high quality welds. The most notable applications for TIG welding are for naval purposes and ones that require high quality welds, like bicycle manufacturing.

The Importance of Safety in TIG Welding

Safety is incredibly important when it comes to welding, and especially for TIG welding. Traditional TIG welding arcs can reach a temperature between 6,000°C and 20,000°C, which is much hotter than the surface of our Sun! The arc emits ultraviolet (UV) light, so protective clothing is required at all times. To prevent this harmful UV light reaching your eyes and even causing skin damage around your face, welders also need to wear opaque helmets with dark eye lenses as well as full head and neck coverage.

Welders are also exposed to particulate matter and dangerous gases. The brightness of the arc can actually break down the surrounding air to form nitric oxides and ozone. Inhalation of these gases can create nitric acid in the lungs and ozone burn. If continued welding is performed without changing the air within the room, it can cause emphysema and oedema of the lungs. To prevent this, full monitoring of ozone and nitric oxide levels is a priority and fume extraction must be installed.

If you are interested on taking up welding for a hobby or you are an experience welder and need to acquire some welding gas, then Adams Gas are here to help! Please do not hesitate to contact us today on 0800 195 444 and we will be more than happy to help you with our enquiries.