Welding Gases

Acetylene  |  Air  |   Argon  |   Carbon Dioxide(CO2)  |   Helium
Hydrogen  |   Nitrogen  |   Oxygen  |  Propane

Argon
Argon (Ar) is a monatomic, chemically inert gas composing slightly less than 1% of the air.  Its gaseous specific gravity is 1.38 and its boiling point is -302.6 degrees F (-185.9 degrees C).  Argon is colorless, odorless, tasteless, noncorrosive, nonflammable, and nontoxic.  Commercial argon is the product of cryogenic air separation, where liquefaction and distillation processes are used to produce a low-purity "crude" argon product.  Oxygen must be removed from the "crude" argon by combining it with hydrogen to produce water.  Then argon is then purified to form the commercial product.

Straight argon is generally used as a shielding gas in tig welding while mig welding is usually best suited to a mixture of argon and CO2 as its shielding gas.

Argon is used primarily for its properties an inert gas in applications such as arc welding, steelmaking, heat treating, and electronics manufacturing.
   It is also widely used as a fill gas in incandescent and fluorescent lamps.  In its welding application, straight argon is generally used as a shielding gas in tig welding, while mig welding is usually best suited to a mixture of argon and CO2 as its shielding gas.

As an inert shielding gas, argon provides the most stable arc combined with the most effective cleaning action.  Argon offers welders excellent control of the welding arc and puddle.  Straight argon is generally used as the shielding gas in tig welding, while mig welding is usually best suited to a mixture of argon and CO2 as its shielding gas.

DOT Name: Argon
DOT Hazard Class:       Nonflammable Gas (2.2)
DOT Label:       Nonflammable Gas
DOT ID No.:       UN 1006
CAS No.:       7440-37-1
Valve Outlet:       CGA580
       

     Physical State in High Pressure Cylinder:  Gas

Toxicity:       Non-toxic
Fire Potential:       Non-flammable
Compatible Materials:      
Major Hazards:       High Pressure Suffocation
           
     Physical Properties of Argon
Formula:       Ar
Molecular Weight:       39.95 lb/mol
Specific Volume at 70°F and 1 atm:       9.67 ft3/lb (0.60 m3/kg)
Specific Heat:       4.98 BTU/lbmol-deg F@ 70 deg. F.
Specific Gravity:       1.38
Gas Density:        0.1034 lb/ft3 @ 70 deg. F. 14.7 PSIA
Boiling Point:       Temperature:  -302.6 deg. F
Liquid Density:       87.01 lb./ft3
Latent Heat:       69.5 BTU/lb.
 

Critical Point:

 Temperature:       -188.4 deg. F
Pressure:       705.4 PSIA
         

Melting Point:

Temperature:       -308.8 deg. F
Pressure:       9.97 PSIA

   

Compressed Argon Cylinders

PART
NUMBER

CYLINDER
SIZE

WEIGHT
OF GAS (LBS.)

PRESSURE
(PSI @ 70F)

DIMENSIONS
(Height x Diameter)

ARG020

20 ft3

2.68

2015

18" x 5-1/2"

ARG125

125 ft3

12.93

2265

47" x 7"

ARG250

250 ft3

25.85

2265

51" x 8-1/2"

ARG336

336 ft3

34.75

2400

55" x 9-1/4"

 
Argon/CO2 75/25 Cylinders

PART
NUMBER

CYLINDER
SIZE

WEIGHT
OF GAS (LBS.)

PRESSURE
(PSI @ 70F)

DIMENSIONS
(Height x Diameter)

ARG/CO27525-020

20 ft3

2.12

2015

18" x 5-1/2"

ARG/CO27525-080

80 ft3

8.49

2015

36" x 7"

ARG/CO27525-125

125 ft3

13.27

2265

47" x 7"

ARG/CO27525-250

250 ft3

26.55

2265

51" x 8-1/2"

ARG/CO27525-382

382 ft3

40.56

2400

55" x 9-1/4"

 

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