Argon-Carbon Dioxide-Nitrogen Mixtures -- Praxair's Stargon® SS Blend
Praxair's Stargon® SS gas blend is a carefully controlled blend of argon, carbon dioxide and nitrogen that is designed for joining a wide variety of stainless steels. It is well-suited for all-position welding as it can be used with all types of metal transfer (i.e. short circuiting, pulsed, and conventional spray). It produces excellent quality welds when joining light gauge material with short-circuiting transfer and offers cost savings when compared with the high-helium content gases currently used today.
With its controlled CO2 content, the Stargon SS blend can be utilized in most austenitic stainless steel applications, particularly where weld metal carbon control is required. The addition of nitrogen to the Stargon SS blend enhances arc performance by increasing its stability, improves weld penetration, and reduces distortion in the welded part. It also assists in maintaining weld metal nitrogen levels for materials such as duplex stainless steels where such chemistry control is critical to maintaining microstructural integrity and increased corrosion resistance.
Benefits
Typical Applications
Pulsed and spray welding of dump truck bodies – excellent appearance, minimum spatter, little post weld clean-up.
With its controlled CO2 content, the Stargon SS blend can be utilized in most austenitic stainless steel applications, particularly where weld metal carbon control is required. The addition of nitrogen to the Stargon SS blend enhances arc performance by increasing its stability, improves weld penetration, and reduces distortion in the welded part. It also assists in maintaining weld metal nitrogen levels for materials such as duplex stainless steels where such chemistry control is critical to maintaining microstructural integrity and increased corrosion resistance.
| Mixture | Composition % |  | Cylinder | Volume | Pressure | Part | ||
| Ar | CO2 | N2 | | Style | (ft3) | (psig) | Number |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Stargon® SS | >90 | <10 | <10 | | T | 335 | 2,640 | AR STAR 77-T |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | K | 249 | 2,200 | AR STAR 77-K |
| | | | | | | | |
Benefits
| » | Very good arc stability |
| » | Good weld penetration and surface appearance. |
| » | Excellent chemistry control for good corrosion resistance. |
| » | Reduced base metal distortion |
| » | Controlled CO2 level for reduced weld carbon content resulting in improved corrosion properties; low levels of welding fume. |
| » | Improved color match |
| » | Very good short-circuiting performance – good bead shape with minimal spatter. |
| » | Very good performance in pulsed spray – good bead shape and optimized travel speed. |
Typical Applications
Pulsed and spray welding of dump truck bodies – excellent appearance, minimum spatter, little post weld clean-up.
| » | Joining thin gauge stainless in the food service industry where bead shape is important. |
| » | Duplex stainless steel pipe and other pipe alloys commonly used in the chemicals industry. |
| » | Architectural applications where minimal distortion and appearance are of concern. |
| » | Thin gauge applications where low base material distortion is required. |
| « Download our Stargon SS data sheet (PDF=79KB) | |
