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Eliminate the use of Helium
in GTAW Applications
on Stainless Steel
Improve Productivity & Quality; Reduce Total Cost
MATHESON QuickView
Application Review and Summary

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Helium Supply Update
• Helium is a non-renewable resource
• Helium supply is subject to variability
– Helium prices fluctuate … and the future is unpredictable
• For welding applications, alternatives to helium exist
– Many of the alternatives offer advantages
Now is the time to consider shielding gas
alternatives that use less - or zero - helium.

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Why use Helium?
• Helium creates a high energy arc
– High ionization potential (24.5874 eV)
– Produces hotter arc (at higher voltages)
• Produces a shallower, wider bead profile
– Effect is proportional to Helium concentration
• High heat can be advantageous on thicker sections
• Helium can be useful on aluminum, magnesium, copper alloys
• Helium when blended with Argon, CO2, and other gases, creates a
mixture with blended characteristics
Frequently Specified Application:
Mixtures rich in Helium – typically 90% - for Stainless Steel

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Helium’s Disadvantages
• Helium’s high ionization potential leads to:
– Less stable arc – can lead to inconsistent results Disadvantages
are proportional
– Hotter arc – can lead to distortion & warping to Helium
concentration
• Helium can lead to penetration issues
• Helium can increase spatter
• Helium is a light atom and a less effective shield
– Helium flow rate per unit of deposited metal is higher than other gases
• Helium is subject to supply and price variability
– The cost of Helium must be considered in high production applications
Using more He
is not the only choice;
and is often not the
best choice.

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GOAL: Reduce or Eliminate Helium Use
• Alternatives to Helium exist
• Helium use can be reduced Consider mixtures
or eliminated optimized for the
• With excellent results: process and
– Better weld penetration application.
– Significant reduction in porosity
– Increased travel speed
– Improved arc stability; less spatter and smoke
– Improved puddle and flow control (smaller droplet)
– Reduced Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)
– Less heat-related damage to base material
– Reduced burn-through on thin materials
– More flexibility to use other processes (spray and pulsed spray, in addition to short
circuit)

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GTAW on Stainless Steel

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Stainless Steel GTAW
• MATHESON Select® H-3
– Uses no Helium – uses Hydrogen in Argon
– Concentrated heat transfer
– Focused arc
• Excellent control
• Reduced burn through, suck-back
• Reduced HAZ
• Reduced distortion

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Stainless Steel GTAW
• Advantages of MATHESON Select® H-3
– Good wetting; high travel speeds
– Hydrogen reduces oxides for
excellent color matching
– Higher productivity and
lower total welding cost
– Ideal for use as a backing gas
– Ideal for narrow welds
• as small as 1/16 inch

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Other Solutions for Stainless Steel

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Stainless Steel Welding
• For GMAW on Stainless Steel
• Why use two setups?
– 90%He / 7.5%Ar / 2.5%CO2 for Short Circuit
– 98%Ar / 2%O2 for Spray
• A single setup handles Short Circuit, Normal Spray,
and Pulsed Spray:
– Matheson Select® HC-725
• Wider voltage range, less heat
• 90% less Helium than mixtures containing 90%He
• ** See our other QuickView: **
Reducing Helium Use for GMAW on Nickel-Based Alloys

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In Review …
• Forward thinking leads to better solutions
• Use of less or 0% Helium can lead to:
– Better results Thank you
– Improved cost per weld for your
–
time!
Better control for all welds
– Easy handling for narrow welds
– The use of ONE SETUP for all applications on SS
• Easily applied in GMAW and GTAW on Nickel-Based alloys
• We are here to support you
• Learn more: contact your MATHESON rep or visit one of our stores
• Find us fast at: www.MathesonGas.com/contactus.aspx