Industrial grade welding shielding gas – guarantee of zero-defect welding
Characteristics of industrial welding gases
There are many types of gases commonly used in industrial welding. Depending on the welding process and materials, it is necessary to select the appropriate gas or mixed gas. The choice of shielding gas directly affects the welding quality, efficiency and cost. Different welding processes (such as MIG/MAG, TIG, plasma welding) have different requirements for the characteristics of the gas.
Core characteristic requirements
| Characteristics | Function | Example gas |
| Inertness/stability | Prevent the molten pool from reacting with air (oxidation, nitridation) | Argon (Ar), helium (He) |
| Thermal conductivity | Affects arc heat distribution and melting depth | Helium (high thermal conductivity), hydrogen (H₂) |
| Ionization energy | Affects arc starting difficulty and stability | Argon (low ionization energy, easy arc starting) |
| Density | Gases with high density are easier to cover the welding area (such as CO₂), and light gases require higher flow | CO₂ (heavy), helium (light) |
| Cost | Mixed gases need to balance performance and price | Ar+CO₂ (low-cost solution) |
The role of welding gas
Isolating air: preventing oxygen and nitrogen from invading and causing pores and slag inclusions (reducing weld defect rate by more than 60%)
Controlling arc characteristics: affecting arc stability, penetration and spatter
Metallurgical reaction regulation: participating in the chemical reaction of the molten pool (such as the oxidizing property of CO2)
Heat transfer medium: affecting the cooling rate and organizational structure of the weld
Classification and performance comparison of main welding gases
| Gas type | Typical mixing ratio | Applicable process | Advantages | Limitations |
| Pure argon (Ar) | 100% Ar | TIG welding, aluminum MIG welding | Stable arc, almost no spatter | High cost, shallow penetration |
| CO₂ | 100% CO₂ | Carbon steel MAG welding | Deep penetration, lowest cost | Large spatter, rough weld appearance |
| Ar+CO₂ | 75%Ar+25%CO₂ | Carbon steel/stainless steel MIG welding | Balanced penetration and spatter (best overall cost performance) | Not applicable to aluminum-magnesium alloys |
| Ar+He | 50%Ar+50%He | High thermal conductivity metals (copper/titanium) | Increase heat input and reduce unfused defects | Gas cost increased by 30% |
| Ar+H₂ | 98%Ar+2%H₂ | Stainless steel pipe welding | Reduce oxide film, brighter weld | Risk of hydrogen-induced cracking (need to be strictly controlled) |
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Available procurement channels
- Offline channels
Representative companies: such as Linde, Air Liquide, Praxair, etc., covering the global market and with a complete product line (such as high-purity argon, food-grade carbon dioxide, etc.).
Domestic leading companies: such as Yingde Gas, Jinhong Gas, Hangyang Co., Ltd., etc., focus on the domestic market and have better cost performance than international brands.
Advantages
Stable quality: large enterprises have a strict quality control system, and the gas purity meets international standards (such as argon purity ≥99.999%).
Strong supply capacity: with large gas storage and transportation networks, it can meet the needs of large-scale and continuous production.
Complete additional services: provide value-added services such as gas cylinder rental, pipeline gas supply solutions, and gas detection.
Limitations
Higher prices: international brands are usually 10%-30% higher than local suppliers.
Minimum order quantity limit: some companies set a minimum purchase quantity for small and medium-sized customers (such as purchasing more than 50 bottles each time).
- Online channels
Vertical industrial e-commerce platform, comprehensive e-commerce platform.
Advantages
Information transparency: you can quickly compare the prices, purity, evaluation and other information of different suppliers.
Flexible procurement: supports small-volume procurement (such as a single-bottle minimum order), suitable for experimental needs or temporary replenishment.
Convenient process: online ordering, electronic contracts, and logistics tracking are integrated to shorten the procurement cycle.
Limitations
High quality risk: some third-party sellers may falsely mark the purity, which requires additional verification (such as requiring a test report).
Logistics restrictions: Gases are dangerous goods, and special qualifications are required for transportation. Some platforms have limited delivery ranges.
- Factory suppliers
Suitable for large-scale procurement and special gas needs.
Channel acquisition methods
Industry exhibitions: participate in professional exhibitions such as the China International Industrial Gas Technology and Equipment Exhibition, and directly connect with manufacturers.
Industry association recommendation: obtain a list of member companies through the China Industrial Gas Industry Association.
Online search: use Google, Baidu, etc. to search for “welding gas manufacturers + regions”, such as “Guangdong argon manufacturers”.
Advantages
Significant price advantage: skipping middlemen can reduce procurement costs by 15%–25%.
Customized service: gas purity and packaging specifications (such as bulk liquid gas) can be adjusted according to process requirements.
Limitations
High minimum order quantity: liquid gas usually needs to be transported by tank trucks, and the minimum order quantity is usually more than 5 tons.
High threshold for cooperation: on-site inspection of factory qualifications (such as ISO 14001 environmental management system certification) and production capacity stability is required.
Comparison of purchasing channels and decision-making model
| Dimensions | Professional industrial gas supplier | Online trading platform | Direct connection with manufacturers |
| Price | High (international brand)/Medium (domestic brand) | Medium-low (need to be compared and screened) | Low (large-volume long-term contract) |
| Quality stability | High (standardized production) | Uneven (need to verify qualifications) | High (customizable testing standards) |
| Supply capacity | Strong (national network) | Medium (limited by logistics) | Medium-strong (need to book in advance) |
| Service professionalism | Strong (technical support, gas cylinder management) | Medium (mainly platform customer service) | Medium (manufacturers provide basic support) |
| Suitable scenarios | Long-term stable production, high purity demand | Small and medium-sized batch procurement, emergency replenishment | Large-scale procurement, customized gas |
Key considerations for purchasing welding gas
- Matching gas types with welding processes
Matching common welding processes with gases
| Welding process | Common gas types | Gas function |
| MIG/MAG welding | Pure argon (Ar), argon-rich mixed gas (such as Ar+CO₂), CO₂ | Protect the molten pool, adjust arc characteristics, control droplet transition and weld formation, and argon-rich mixed gas is suitable for metals such as stainless steel and aluminum. |
| TIG welding | Pure argon (Ar), helium (He) or argon-helium mixed gas | Provide inert protection, helium can increase heat input, suitable for thick plates or high thermal conductivity metals (such as copper). |
| Plasma welding | Argon (Ar), nitrogen (N₂), hydrogen (H₂) | Form a plasma arc, hydrogen can increase arc energy, and nitrogen is used for welding specific metals (such as tungsten). |
| Submerged arc welding | Shielding gas is usually not used (relying on flux) | – |
| Gas welding | Oxygen (O₂) + acetylene (C₂H₂), propane (C₃H₈) | Burn to produce high-temperature flames, which are used for metal cutting, brazing or welding of small workpieces. |
- Gas purity and impurity control
Purity standard
Inert gas (argon, helium): generally requires purity ≥99.9%, precision welding (such as aerospace, nuclear power) requires ≥99.999%.
Active gas (CO₂): Purity must be ≥99.5%, and water content ≤0.1% to avoid CO pores in the weld.
Mixed gas: It is necessary to ensure that the proportion of each component is accurate (such as Ar-5% CO₂), and the total amount of impurities meets the process requirements.
Testing requirements
When purchasing, the supplier should be required to provide a gas purity test report, focusing on indicators such as oxygen (O₂), water (H₂O), dew point, etc. If necessary, a third party can be entrusted for testing.
- Graded selection based on purchase volume
Small batch (<50 bottles per month): Prioritize online platforms (e.g. Zhenkunxing) or local suppliers to reduce inventory pressure.
Medium-volume (monthly usage 50-500 bottles): Compare domestic head enterprises and online platforms, and choose cost-effective channels with timely delivery.
Large volume (monthly usage >500 bottles): Sign a long-term agreement directly with the manufacturer to lock in the price and agree on step discounts (e.g., for every 10% increase in annual purchasing volume, the unit price will be reduced by 5%).
- Supply stability, cost control and procurement model
Prefer suppliers with their own gas sources or those cooperating with large gas producers to avoid supply interruptions due to fluctuations in gas sources. For rare gases (such as helium), it is necessary to confirm the supplier’s long-term supply capacity (such as whether there is a stable import channel).
Transportation method: Bottled gas needs to pay attention to the specifications of the gas cylinder (such as 40L steel cylinder, 190L Dewar flask) and transportation safety qualifications; liquid gas needs to consider the storage tank capacity and vaporization equipment.
Response speed: Whether it can be replenished quickly in an emergency (such as delivery within 24 hours), especially for companies with a tight production rhythm.
- About price and procurement
Gas unit price: Gas prices of different purities and packaging (bottled/liquid) vary significantly. The unit cost of liquid gases (such as liquid argon and liquid oxygen) is usually lower than that of bottled gases.
Transportation cost: Long-distance transportation may increase the cost of bottled gas, so local or regional suppliers are preferred.
Additional costs: Such as gas cylinder deposits, tank rental fees, inspection fees, etc., the allocation method must be clearly stated in the contract.
Select the purchasing mode: bulk purchase, customized mixed gas, recycling of used gas cylinders.
- Comparison of domestic and foreign procurement channels
| Comparison Dimension | Domestic Sourcing | Foreign Sourcing |
| Supplier type | Local manufacturers + regional distributors | International giants + local agents |
| Online Sourcing | Jingdong Industrial, Alibaba 1688 and other mature | Amazon Business, ThomasNet and other mainstream platforms |
| Distribution efficiency | Faster (localized supply chain) | Slower (cross-border logistics, customs clearance) |
| Small-quantity procurement | Flexible (support for cylinder leasing) | Higher threshold (minimum order quantity limit) |
The market for welding gases
- Characteristics of the Chinese market
Firstly, there is a concentration of suppliers (e.g. Linde, Hangxiang, Baosteel gas, etc.). Secondly, there is fierce price competition and obvious regional differences. And small and medium-sized enterprises rely on local distributors.
Characteristics of international market
European and American markets are dominated by multinational giants (e.g. Linde, Air Liquide, Air Products). Emerging markets (e.g. Southeast Asia, Africa) rely on imports or small local suppliers.
- Comparison of Supply Chain Stability
| Factors | Domestic | Foreign |
| Stability of supply | High (local production-oriented) | Subject to the international situation, trade policies |
| Emergency Response | Fast (local service support) | Slow (dependent on customs clearance and logistics) |
| Technical Support | Provide Chinese technical documentation | English communication is required, time difference may exist |
- Difference between regulations and standards
China Regulations
Compliance with the Regulations on the Safe Management of Dangerous Chemicals is required. Gas cylinders need to pass TSG certification (Technical Specification for Safety of Special Equipment).
International Regulations
Europe and USA: OSHA (USA), ATEX (EU) and other safety standards need to be complied with.
Transportation: International shipping needs to comply with IMDG (Transportation Rules for Dangerous Goods).
Environmental requirements: The EU has stricter restrictions on fluoride gas.
Choosing a Supplier
As a professional gas supplier, we have over 10 years of experience in the industrial gas field, serving customers in 20+ industries including machinery manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, pressure vessels, etc. We have more than 3,000 customers and a 95% repurchase rate. We provide full-cycle services to reduce costs and increase efficiency. We can provide you with free technical support, senior engineers can guide you on-site, and we also have a flexible cooperation model, no matter you need rental service, or high volume, or special customization, you can communicate with us directly.
You can prioritize purchasing from us when you have small and medium batch demand, cost sensitivity, high purity gas demand, and need fast response. We hope we can provide you with more comfortable service and win-win cooperation. Please contact our email for industrial gas quotation, welcome!
FAQ
- What do I need to pay attention to when buying welding gases?
First of all, you need to pay attention to the supplier’s qualification and check the production/operation license (e.g. hazardous chemical license). You need to confirm that the gas cylinders are safe and tested (TSG certification is required in China). There are also contract terms to clarify gas purity, delivery time, return policy.
- How to determine whether the gas quality is qualified?
Require suppliers to provide quality inspection reports (such as argon purity ≥ 99.99%). And to understand the effect of welding, more gas impurities will lead to increased weld porosity and spatter.
- Can gas cylinders be reused?
Gas cylinders can be reused, but need to be tested regularly (hydrostatic test every 3 years in China), many suppliers provide gas cylinder rental to reduce the deposit pressure.
- How can I reduce my welding gas costs?
Optimize the gas flow to avoid overuse (refer to the welding parameters manual). Gas mixtures can be used instead, Ar+CO₂ is more economical than pure argon. It is also possible to make long-term agreements and lock in the price with an annual contract with the supplier.
- Emergency Handling
When a gas leaks, close the valve, ventilate the area, and then contact a professional immediately.
When the gas cylinder is on fire, use a dry powder fire extinguisher immediately, do not use water!
