If you are performing a welding operation, you’re familiar with the term “purging,” which is simply the method of extracting oxygen from the welding scene to avoid the risk of oxidation. When TIG welding, purging prevents issues like pitting, cracking, and splatter from arising. Argon, the most notable purging gas,…
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Articles on cutting-edge welding technologies, orbital welding best practices, and the latest welding accessories
Transporting oil and gas through pipelines can be risky because oil and gas are hazardous and flammable materials. Keeping hazards to a minimum requires quality pipelines without any defects. However, ensuring a defect-free pipeline can be difficult, especially around weld joints. As a response, oil and gas pipeline standards have…
Oil and gas projects require highly critical and complex infrastructure, including pipelines, storage tanks, rigs, and other components that require welding. As a part of this infrastructure, pipelines assist in the critical task of transporting crude oil or natural gas. There are almost 190,000 miles of liquid petroleum pipelines across…
The best welders approach each welding task with an open mind because each process has unique requirements. Some applications benefit from slow processes such as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), while others utilize fast wire feed processes like MIG (Metal Inert Gas). Because a fixed welding solution may not always be…
Among the variety of stainless steel, type 304 and 316 are the two most used in the commercial market. The grade 316 itself is a molybdenum-containing austenitic stainless steel. 316L is a modified version of 316 stainless steel where the letter “L” stands for “low-carbon.” The difference in carbon content…
Welding technology investments only become successful when manufacturers take the small details into account. These details can include weld parameters such as feed rate amperage, oscillation, and the material used during the process. Electrode selection, likewise, represents a relatively low-cost detail; however, an improperly selected electrode can result in thousands…
In welding process discussions, importance often is given to the metal’s chemical composition, the heat input, and other weld parameters. But the importance of shielding gas for the creation of pure and high-quality welds should also be considered. A wide variety of shielding gases—such as argon, helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen—protect…
Tungsten electrodes are preferred in welding because they create excellent fusion in arc welding processes such as GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) or PAW (Plasma Arc Welding). However, the same electrode can cause inclusions that present an issue during high-spec weld applications. To reduce the tungsten inclusion during GTAW, welders…
The science of metallurgy focuses on the chemical, physical, and mechanical composition of a metal and its alloys. And it carries special importance for welders because a metal’s attributes may be altered during the fusion process thermal cycles. Basic knowledge of welding metallurgy is, consequently, a great benefit for welders….
The various grades of stainless steel are known for their excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and smooth surface finishes. These properties are attributable to the composition of stainless steel, which contains chromium, nickel, carbon, and other alloying elements. Depending on its composition variation, stainless steel offers several grades to suit…