can use argon with almost any material
steel is sometimes CO2 or CO2 90% Ar 10%
Carbon doesnt ruin steel can actually strengthen it
Al and CO2 is a disaster
Al will burn in CO2
Ar is more expensive
Helium takes less heat from the weld and makes a better weld but is a LOT more expensive
I would say that SMAW (stick) is still the most widely used process. The GMAW (mig) process has gained a wide acceptance in construction and fabrication and may even have surpassed stick welding in many situations. Unfortunately with mig welding the machine has to be close to the welding site. Dragging a welding lead into and around fabrications is still much easier than moving a mig machine.
Carbon Dioxide iswidely used for MIG welding but I never heard of carbon monoxide and it is definitely not used in the industry as shielding gas. The purpose of the shielding gas is not just shielding the weld pool but offer arc stability with an adequate ionization potential. The heat and electrical conducctivity of the gas at the arc temperature are a huge factor as well.
Providing a shield of gases during arc welding is essential to protect the weld from atmospheric contamination such as oxygen and nitrogen. These gases can react with the molten metal, leading to defects in the weld like porosity, cracking, and reduced strength. Shielding gases help to create a stable arc, protect the molten weld pool, and improve the overall quality and integrity of the weld.
Argon is an inert gas. At the high temperatures which are reached during welding the metals involved can get highly reactive. An inert environment prevents chemical reactions.
Argon is used in welding as a shielding gas to prevent oxidation and improve the quality of the weld. It is inert, which means it does not react with the weld material or electrode, providing a stable environment for the welding process. Argon also helps to stabilize the arc and minimize spatter during welding.
Gas, arc, mig and tig.
Gas Metal Arc Welding Most folks call it MIG
MIG stands for metal inert gas. It is a non-standard term for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) according to the American Welding Society (AWS). It is simply Metal Inert Gas.
The Type of welding you are doing, the brightness of the arc.
It is arc welding process using a spool of wire that is fed to the material by an electric motor. Different from shielded metal arc welding which uses consumable welding electrodes with a covering of flux to assist and protect the weld. The MIG uses an inert gas (IG) to keep impurities from the welding point. The technical term for MIG is GMAW (gas metal arc welding), this is because most of the time an inert gas is not used, a mixed gas is more likely. Ex. 90-10 Ar-CO2
Using the correct procedures and filler material they can both have the same strength. P.S. both are considered "arc welding"
Manual Metal Arc Welding(MMAW) Also GTAW (TIG) and GMAW (MIG) The MIG wire carries electric current so it is considered the electrode. TIG the Tungsten is considered an electrode.
MMA stands for manual Metal Arc welding. In short "arc welding" and can be used in either AC or DC mode. Usually incorperated with Mig, Tig and plasma cutters for arc welding machines as an optional extra. submitted by Ken.Benson - Clarke. sales@edacomputers.co.uk from saffon walden, essex, uk.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Gas Metal Arc Welding Flux Cored Arc Welding
MIG welding works only with reversed polarity, DC+, + at the torch. The reason is mostly the stability of the arc. Using DC- will result in a very unstable arc with lots of spatter.
See preceding question re: Mig welding.
I am not sure your question is clear enough but here I go... Stick Arc Welding (AC or DC), MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tunsten Inter Gas). All three of these are the basic metal welding machines.