Argon Welding Gas
Pure argon gas for MIG welding, TIG welding, fabrication, and metalworking, supplied by Havard Welding, your trusted argon gas supplier.
We Supply Argon Gas For MIG Welding And TIG Welding
Havard Welding supplies pure argon welding gas in tanks and cylinders for fabrication shops, machine shops, manufacturers, maintenance contractors, and industrial facilities throughout East Houston. Whether you need argon gas for MIG welding blends or for TIG welding with argon gas, we offer cylinder sizes and bulk supply options to support your continuous production environments.
About Argon Gas
Argon (Ar) is a monatomic, chemically inert gas that makes up slightly less than one percent of Earth\'s atmosphere. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, noncorrosive, nonflammable, and nontoxic. With a gaseous specific gravity of 1.38 and a boiling point of -302.6°F (-185.9°C), argon is well suited for industrial applications that require a stable, nonreactive atmosphere.
Commercial argon is produced through cryogenic air separation, where atmospheric air is liquefied and separated by fractional distillation to produce a low-purity, or "crude," argon stream. During purification, residual oxygen is removed by reacting it with hydrogen to form water before the gas undergoes final refinement into commercial-grade argon suitable for industrial use.
Because argon remains chemically inert during high-temperature processes, it is widely used wherever atmospheric contamination must be minimized. Its primary applications include arc welding, steelmaking, heat treating, electronics manufacturing, and as a fill gas for incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Within the welding industry, straight argon is the preferred shielding gas for most TIG welding applications because it produces a highly stable arc, excellent cleaning action, and precise control of both the welding arc and molten weld puddle. For many MIG welding applications, argon is commonly blended with carbon dioxide to achieve the desired balance of arc characteristics, penetration, and overall welding performance.
Argon Gas Applications
Argon\'s inert properties make it an essential industrial gas for welding, manufacturing, and thermal processing where contamination control and process stability are critical.
TIG Welding
Straight argon is the preferred shielding gas for TIG welding, delivering a stable arc, excellent cleaning action, and precise puddle control when welding aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, magnesium, and other alloys.
MIG Welding
For MIG welding, argon is commonly blended with carbon dioxide to improve arc stability, penetration, bead appearance, and welding efficiency across a variety of fabrication applications.
Arc Welding & Fabrication
Argon protects the weld pool from atmospheric contamination, helping produce cleaner welds with improved consistency during manual and automated welding operations.
Steelmaking & Heat Treating
Steel producers and heat treatment facilities use argon to create controlled atmospheres that help reduce oxidation during high-temperature processing.
Electronics & Lighting
Argon is used in electronics manufacturing where contamination control is essential and as a fill gas for incandescent and fluorescent lamps because of its inert properties.
Why Argon Is the Industry Standard for Shielding
The performance of a shielding gas directly influences weld quality, and argon has become the benchmark for many welding processes because of its unique physical and chemical characteristics.
Unlike reactive gases, argon remains chemically stable throughout the welding process. This inert behavior allows it to surround the weld pool without reacting with the molten metal, helping reduce oxidation, porosity, and other forms of atmospheric contamination.
Argon also provides one of the most stable welding arcs available among commonly used shielding gases. Combined with its effective cleaning action and precise puddle control, it allows welders to produce consistent weld profiles while maintaining excellent visibility throughout the welding operation. These characteristics explain why straight argon continues to be the preferred shielding gas for TIG welding, while argon-based gas mixtures remain widely used across MIG welding and automated fabrication systems.
Safety & Chemical Specifications
DOT Information
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| 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 Cylinder | Gas |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
| Fire Potential | Non-flammable |
| Compatible Materials | Noncorrosive |
| Major Hazards | High Pressure Suffocation |
Physical Properties of Argon
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Available Argon Cylinder Sizes
Compressed Argon Welding Gas Cylinder
| 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" |