Air Products offers its professional welding customers a range of specialised shielding and purging gases. The gases Astec, Protec and Hytec, offer those in the professional metal fabrication industry superior welding speed and quality. “Air Products produces an excellent general-purpose shielding gas called Coogar. However, with these more specialised gas blends, a welder can get significantly higher welding speeds,” explains Air Products’ manager: Welding and Cutting Gases, Colin West.
Astec gases are formulated to meet stringent requirements mainly in stainless steel and aluminium welding. With Astec, better heat input control improves the mechanical properties of stainless steel, giving superior penetration and sidewall fusion in the joint.
Other gases in the Astec range are Astec 15, 25 and 30. Astec gases are a blend of argon and helium, the blend being intended for the welding of aluminium, copper and stainless steel. Astec 15, for example, gives better droplet formation on thin stainless steels, while Astec S3 is a metal active (MAG) welding gas for austenitic stainless steels.
On the other hand, the argon-hydrogen mix used in Hytec 5 makes for a shielding gas capable of increasing welding speeds by 37%, in comparison to a pure argon blend.
“These gases, although more costly, give improved welding qualities to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals,” says West.
These gases are not limited to welding only, as some can also be used for purging stainless steel tubing. For example, where a pipe is undergoing welding, the pipe is filled with the inert purging gas. This ensures that the weld surface exposed on the pipe interior is protected against atmospheric contamination. Protec backing gases, which are a blend of nitrogen and hydrogen, have been specifically designed for purging. In food or pharmaceutical processing, this quality of welding is essential.
However, some professional welding customers, who are concerned about containing costs, may not always see the long-term advantages of a specialised gas. Air Products has technical experts on hand, who are happy to answer any customer queries.
The advances in welding technology have seen an ever-increasing demand for all types of welding gases. Air Products adds value to its customers’ businesses through innovative delivery solutions.
For example, the cost-effective small liquid-delivery (SLD) technology. This uses large-volume Maxitanks, which can be replenished from a specially designed Air Products’ delivery truck. This system eliminates the need for keeping a multitude of cylinders on site. The use of Maxitanks allows for less handling, with improved safety and housekeeping. Maxitanks give their users superb flexibility, as they can draw off exactly the correct blend of gases from various cylinders by means of a mixing panel.
Air Products’ most popular brand name for welding is Coogar. This range of welding gases has been in existence since the early 1970s and is the leading brand for MIG/MAG applications.
“The downside is that overwhelming popularity of Coogar has seen customers tending to demand it for all MIG/MAG welding applications, not realising that there are specialised welding gases which could offer more cost-effective welding,” explains West.
To help customers choose exactly the right welding gas, Air Products has developed a database called Gas Selector. Gas Selector makes choosing the right gas as simple as clicking through to a website. Then, completing four straightforward questions brings the name of the recommended gas on screen. The data is formatted to the cylinder identification chart, making selection simple.
“Gas Selector ensures that our customers have access to the best products for their particular welding needs,” concludes West.
For more information contact Colin West, Air Products South Africa, +27 (0)11 977 6415, westcw@apsap.co.za, www.airproducts.co.za
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