Materials & supplies Start with the metal. Understand your material, then choose the wire, rod, electrode or shielding gas for your process.
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Shielding gas EN ISO 14175: I3; inert argon/helium shielding blend
Process TIG (GTAW) · Aluminium MIG (GMAW)
Materials Aluminium · Compatible copper alloys · Other procedure-approved TIG materials An inert blend used when additional helium heat transfer is useful for the application.
Uses & selection An inert blend used when additional helium heat transfer is useful for the application.
Choosing a product Compare fusion and operating cost with pure argon on the actual joint. The machine settings and flow measurement must suit the selected gas.
What to check Changing gas changes the arc and shielding behaviour. A helium blend does not correct an unsuitable joint preparation or machine.
Full guide & references Shielding gas EN ISO 14175: M21-ArC-18
Process MAG (GMAW) · Compatible gas-shielded flux core (FCAW-G)
Materials Unalloyed steel · Low-alloy steel A widely used mixed-gas choice for carbon- and low-alloy-steel MAG.
Uses & selection A widely used mixed-gas choice for carbon- and low-alloy-steel MAG.
Choosing a product Choose a wire approved for this mixture and a machine programme appropriate to the transfer mode. Check local gas names and certified composition.
What to check This is an active gas blend, unsuitable as TIG or aluminium MIG shielding. Stainless solid wire usually needs a different, lower-active blend.
Full guide & references Shielding gas Active helium/argon/CO₂ shielding blend
Process Specified stainless short-circuit GMAW · Miller RMD stainless GMAW
Materials Compatible stainless steel A stainless trimix documented for specified short-circuit and controlled-transfer procedures.
Uses & selection A stainless trimix documented for specified short-circuit and controlled-transfer procedures.
Choosing a product Check the wire, transfer mode and exact mixture. Miller's cited RMD guidance pairs this gas with high-silicon stainless wire such as 308LSi or 316LSi.
What to check This is an active blend, unsuitable for TIG or aluminium MIG. Do not treat it as the required gas for every stainless machine or programme.
Full guide & references Shielding gas EN ISO 14175: M22-ArO-4
Process Steel MAG (GMAW)
Materials Unalloyed steel · Low-alloy steel An argon/oxygen option for steel MAG applications where the selected procedure benefits from this active blend.
Uses & selection An argon/oxygen option for steel MAG applications where the selected procedure benefits from this active blend.
Choosing a product Use only with a wire and procedure that permit the oxygen fraction. Check the transfer mode and positional requirements.
What to check It is not an inert gas. Do not use it for TIG or aluminium MIG, and do not substitute it for a stainless low-active blend without qualification.
Full guide & references Shielding gas Low-active argon/CO₂ shielding blend
Process Stainless MAG (GMAW)
Materials Compatible austenitic stainless steel A low-CO₂ shielding choice for stainless solid-wire MAG.
Uses & selection A low-CO₂ shielding choice for stainless solid-wire MAG.
Choosing a product Match the gas to the stainless filler, transfer mode and required corrosion performance. The low active-gas level helps limit oxidation and carbon pickup.
What to check It remains an active blend; do not use it for TIG or aluminium MIG. Stainless flux-cored products can specify different gases.
Full guide & references Shielding gas Active shielding gas: CO₂
Process MAG (GMAW) · Compatible gas-shielded flux core (FCAW-G)
Materials Carbon steel · Mild steel An active shielding option for steel MAG and wires expressly approved for CO₂.
Uses & selection An active shielding option for steel MAG and wires expressly approved for CO₂.
Choosing a product Confirm the wire's gas designation and supported transfer mode. Linde describes CO₂ as particularly suited to short-arc MAG.
What to check It can produce more spatter than suitable argon blends. Do not use CO₂ as TIG or aluminium MIG shielding gas.
Full guide & references Shielding gas Inert shielding gas: Ar
Process TIG (GTAW) · Aluminium MIG (GMAW)
Materials Steel — TIG · Stainless steel — TIG · Aluminium · Other compatible nonferrous metals A common inert shielding choice for TIG and aluminium MIG.
Uses & selection A common inert shielding choice for TIG and aluminium MIG.
Choosing a product Order the purity grade required by the procedure and use the correct regulator. TIG shielding and any root purge must be planned for the actual joint.
What to check Do not assume pure argon is the normal gas for solid-wire steel MAG. Welding gas is not breathable; leaks can displace oxygen.
Full guide & references Shielding gas Inert shielding gas: He
Process Procedure-approved TIG (GTAW)
Materials Compatible aluminium · Compatible copper · Compatible magnesium A specialist inert-gas option where helium's heat-transfer characteristics suit the joint and equipment.
Uses & selection A specialist inert-gas option where helium's heat-transfer characteristics suit the joint and equipment.
Choosing a product Confirm the exact process and machine capability with the gas supplier. Argon/helium mixtures may be a more practical comparison point.
What to check Air Liquide notes less tolerance for error in manual welding than with easier-starting argon. Do not assume a direct replacement for argon without rechecking the procedure.
Full guide & references Welding wire AWS A5.20: E71T-11
Process Self-shielded flux core (FCAW-S)
Materials Mild steel Continuous-wire steel welding without a separate shielding-gas bottle.
Uses & selection Continuous-wire steel welding without a separate shielding-gas bottle.
Choosing a product Choose the exact product and diameter for the joint thickness. Confirm the polarity on its label rather than copying a solid-wire setup.
What to check Slag, spatter and fumes still need control. The cited NR-211-MP product has diameter-dependent plate-thickness limits; it is not a universal structural wire.
Full guide & references Start with the exact alloy, joint and procedure. Confirm polarity, gas, size and storage instructions in the specific product sheet.
