What Does
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Mean?
Tungsten inert gas (TIG) is a type of arc welding that makes use of a tungsten electrode that is non-consumable in order to generate a weld. The weld spot is protected from contamination by helium, argon and other inert shielding gases.
With this process, there is no longer a need for filler metal that is typically used in the process of arc welding. This process makes this kind of weld highly resistant to the effects of corrosion.
Tungsten inert gas is also known as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
Corrosionpedia Explains Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG)
Many industries make use of TIG for welding, especially those that involve thin and small work pieces, particularly non-ferrous metals.
This welding technique is also widely used in space vehicle preparation as well as industries that use thin tubing. It is also very helpful in repair and maintenance work. Unlike most welding processes, with tungsten inert gas the weld metal is not transferred straight across electric arcs. This allows welding of various alloys in different configurations. Since the generated welds carry the same chemical integrity compared to the base metal, TIG welds are proven to be highly resistant to cracking and corrosion for a significant period of time.