How To Tig Weld Titanium – Beginner’s to Advance

Titanium is a metal that reacts strongly that is why it was in the past that welders only used it within tightly sealed chambers. But, it’s not as difficult to weld as some people think. If you have the right gas protection and preventative measures, you will be able to do the task.

In this post, we’ll explain the best way to How To Tig Weld Titanium. Titanium is a metal with a variety of characteristics that play an important function during the process of welding.

• It has less density than many metals.
• It’s not as flexible as other metals.
• Titanium has a greater melting point than other metals used for welding.
• It is a highly reactive material and can become easily contaminated.
• It’s not as ductile as stainless steel.

Pre-Welding Preparation:

A good titanium weld will appear like frozen mercury. It will be reflective and shiny. To make sure you create an effective weld of high-quality, it is important to take a few steps to prepare the surface prior to the process.

Clean the Surface:

We suggest that you prepare your surfaces prior to welding tasks. But, when welding with titanium, it is important to be especially cautious. 

The cleaner your surface the more durable joints will become. Dust, dirt, oil and rust cutting fluid, as well as paint could cause an unsound joint, which can be a sign of weld failure.

To ensure a lasting and reliable weld, adhere to the three C’s of welding:

• Clean surface
• Clean workspace
• Clean filler rod

If one of these surfaces isn’t well-maintained, you could end up with a contaminating workpiece. To get rid of any unwanted contaminants from your surface we recommend using the right chemical cleaner that is specifically made for titanium.

To clean the surface of your work area make use of a steam cleaning machine and a dilute solution sodium hydroxide to wash off all substances. 

Next, employ a hot air blower to eliminate all moisture from the area. Avoid using the hot air blower with any chemical solvent that is flammable. 

You must ensure you use a chemical cleanser you choose to use to clean your piece of work is not explosive. Clean the equipment thoroughly and dry it before using. It is possible to use the same solution that you used for the workstation to clean the tools too.

Titanium doesn’t react well to chlorine, so you should double-check the cleaning solution to ensure that it’s not chlorine-based. Rubber gloves are also contaminated with chlorine, so opt for cotton or plastic gloves.

Choose a Shielding Gas:

Since titanium reacts easily with dirt, air, oil water, and other metals, it can form fragile compounds, using the correct shield gas is crucial in order to ensure that you get a solid weld. 

The majority of welders utilize 99.999 percent pure Argon to make the weld. Only truly purified Argon and Helium offer the best protection against the elements. When you purchase the gas used to shield the welding job, be sure you buy the gas from reputable suppliers. 

Even even if the Argon is a little less pure than what is required the result could be discoloration. It will result in the weld to be yellowish-tinged, which is certainly not something you would like to happen. 

Incomplete coverage or gas that is not properly dissolved may also cause the blue-tinged mottling and blue tint. In the case of titanium, you have to ensure that not only the front, but the back too is free from the elements. 

Any part that is affected is likely to experience an adverse reaction when it comes into the contact of oxygen. For small parts for smaller parts, you can utilize closed compartments made of glove boxes which contain gas that shields. 

There are also special polyethylene purge gas chambers that are paired with purge monitors. By using them, you will be able to ensure that the purge gas chamber is equipped with sufficient Argon to ensure optimal security.

If you’re seeking to attain the an optimal level of coverage when you’re welding Here are the three steps you must adhere to:

Primary Shielding:

Typically built into the welding torch and gives the primary protection needed to protect the melting weld puddle. 

It is possible to use a standard torch, which is water-cooled and equipped with a ceramic-coated cup and gas lenses. We recommend that you select the torch with a larger cup for the greatest coverage.

Secondary Shielding:

Trailing Shields offer additional security. The shields can be affixed to the top of the majority of welding torch and ensure that the areas affected by heat are safe from contamination.

Backup Shielding devices are like trailing shields, and perform the same purpose. They can be handheld or taped in positions. They are rarely with a welding torch that is pre-installed.

Selecting the Right Filler Wire:

When selecting the filler material for welding titan and alloys it is recommended to select one that shares the same characteristics that the base metal does. 

You may also choose one that’s classified with a strength that is one grade lower than the metal used for base. In certain circumstances the welder might choose a different type of filler wire. The choice of filler wire will be based on the properties and the configuration of the joint. 

To improve joint ductility:

If welding unalloyed titanium with higher strength, choose filler metals that are weaker in yield strength than the base.

Filler material that is not alloyed can be used as a material for welding titanium using the Ti-5A1-2.5Sn and Ti-6A1-4V classes.

Another alternative is to use filler metal that has less nitrogen, oxygen carbon, hydrogen and other alloying elements as compared to the base metal.

Usable Welding Processes:

When welding titanium alloys and titanium You can employ all of the welding methods:

• (EBW) Electron-beam welding
• (GTAW) Gas-tungsten arc welding or (TIG) tungsten Inert Gas Welding
• (RW) Welding resistance
• (LBW) Laser beam welding
• (PAW) Plasma arc welding
• (GMAW) Gas-metal welding, also known as (MIG) metal Inert Gas
• (FRW) (FRW) Friction Welding

Electron Beam Welding:

It is a process that makes use of a fast electron beam to connect two metals. As the beam is into proximity to the two metal components and generates heat, it produces intense heat.

Two plates melt, and join to create an unbreakable joint. Aerospace and the aircraft production industries use electron beam welding due to the strength of the joints that are created. The electron beam welding method for plates that range from 6mm to 76mm , and even more. 

The process results in high-quality welds with minimal contamination as the process is carried out in a high-vacuum atmosphere.

Tungsten Inert Gas / GTAW:

TIG and GTA welding techniques employ an electrode made of tungsten that is not consumable and allows current to flow into the welding arc. 

Shielding gas is utilized to shield the puddle of weld from external contamination that could cause weak and poor quality welding. 

For this process you will require an element of filler or wire to make your weld joint. It is a common method for welding titan and alloys. It is possible to use TIG without filler material to create straight butt joints in base metals that are up to 2.5 millimeters thick. 

For sheets that are thicker that are more substantial, you must make use of a filler metal in order to ensure that the welding joint is strong.

Resistance Welding (RW):

Resistance welding is a thermoelectric process. The process joins two parts metal by passing a controlled voltage through the plates over an appropriate time. It is normal to apply the use of a substantial amount of pressure during the process as well. 

The heat is only limited to the region that is to join. Resistance welding is a method in order to connect titanium alloys and titanium to make continuous or spot welds. It’s especially useful for welding titanium to other metals such as stainless steel or carbon steel plates.

Laser-Beam Welding (LBW):

It is a different Fusion welding technique that joins two pieces metal by using laser. The laser heats the joint between two plates, that melt, and then merge to form the joint. When the molten weld puddle is cooled and solidifies, it forms a strong and long-lasting weld.

Welders nowadays are more inclined to use laser beam welding over titanium because it eliminates the requirement for an air chamber. However the use of shielding gas remains essential because of the possibility of contamination is still.

Although laser beam or electron beam can be considered to both be fusion welding processes however, the application of the latter is more limited. The electron beam isn’t a viable process on titanium plates that are more than 13 mm thick.

Plasma Arc Welding (PAW):

Plasma Arc Welding is comparable to TIG in that it too employs an arc between the electrode of tungsten and the metal workpiece. 

It can be used for almost all titanium classes and can be used even on larger sheets of steel. By using the keyhole technique you can use it on a one-pass sheet with a thickness of up to 13 mm.

Metal Inert Gas (MIG)/ Gas-Metal Arc Welding (GMAW):

MIG welding employs the use of a filler metal wire that is heated continuously and fed by an electric welding gun. This process requires using shielding gases in order to shield the puddle of weld from contamination.

Many welders favor GMAW because of its high efficiency and metal deposition. You may also apply the titanium welding process for plates greater than 3 mm thick. By using the pulsed current technique allows you to create quality welds. 

This method is less expensive than other methods, particularly for titanium plates greater than 13 millimeters thick.

Friction Welding (FRW):

The name suggests the process uses friction to connect two metal pieces to each other. It’s a weld that is solid-state procedure where the resulting joint is as solid as the metal base. 

It is widely utilized in a variety of industries, and can be used for joining tubes, pipes or rods. It’s especially effective when you need to ensure joint hygiene without the need for additional safety measures.

Tips and Tricks for TIG Welding:

Here are some helpful suggestions and tricks to follow when using titanium. Utilize an ordinary GTAW the welding source with a high-frequency start-up of the arc. Utilizing a direct current electrode negative polarity and remote amperage control can be used to weld titanium.

Utilize a water-cooled TIG torch. They can perform high-temperature welding for longer durations. In comparison to air-cooled torchers, they are smaller and easy to steer.

If you’re in search of an affordable torch, we recommend that you choose an air-cooled model instead.

To join titanium, employ the 22 percentage Ceriated Tungsten electrode. 1/16 inch or less for welding less than 125 amps. 1/16-3/32 inches for 1/16 to 3/32 inch.

If you are using more over 200 amps employ an electrode of 3/8 to 1/8 inch diameter. Utilize a wide gas lens that has at least 0.75 or 1 inches. 

This allows you to do longer welding by providing more expansive coverage. Make use of the purge block made of copper that is porous to ensure even coverage of the workpiece on all sides. Copper acts as an eye and evenly disperses the shielding gas over all the piece from all angles.

The optimal gas flow for filters and trails is 10 cubic feet/hour. When it comes to the torch you must set it to 20 cubic feet per hour. In the case of joints where purge blocks becomes unaffordable it is possible to build chambers made of aluminum foil, stainless steel or fiberglass. 

Before you begin welding make sure that the shield gas flow through the chamber long enough for the air to shift 10 times or more. To ensure that the material is safe from contamination, use gloves made of nitrile when working with titanium.

As crucial as selecting the best filler rod important, properly storing it is crucial. Once you have chosen a rod and properly cleanse the rod it is important to keep it in an airtight container to protect it from reuse in the future.

Before welding, ensure you have broken down the oxide layer that is on titanium. To accomplish this, use the grinder as well as a deburring tool. It is important to keep the tools specifically for titanium. 

Continue by cleaning the tools. Clean up the workpiece using an lint-free cloth, using either Acetone or a Methyl Ethyl Ketone solvent. It is also possible to use dilute sodium hydroxide solution and water to prepare the surface to allow welding.

Additionally, you can make use of a carbide file as well as stainless steel brushes to eliminate a light oxide layer that has formed on the surface of titanium. Wear gloves made of nitrile, and to designate the tools to be used for titanium only.

The post-procedure must be maintained by gas flow shielding until the temperature falls lower than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. We suggest using an infrared temperature gauge to make sure that the titanium cools to a safe level prior to shutting off your gas supply.

The process of welding titanium is basically identical to welding other metal. However, due to titanium’s high level of resistance, welding may become a challenging process. If you make sure that the material is cleaned prior to welding, there shouldn’t be any issues in the process of welding. 

Make sure you have the right setup to shield the metal from contamination. If you can do this it becomes easy.

Conclusion: How To Tig Weld Titanium

In conclusion, mastering the art of TIG welding titanium can open up a world of possibilities for fabricators and welding enthusiasts alike. By following the key steps and guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure successful and high-quality titanium welds.

Remember to prepare the workpiece meticulously, use appropriate safety measures, select the right welding equipment and settings, and maintain proper technique throughout the process.

Working with titanium requires patience, precision, and a thorough understanding of its unique properties. By taking the time to learn and practice the techniques discussed here, you can achieve strong and visually appealing welds on this challenging but rewarding material.

Additionally, it is crucial to refer to specific manufacturer recommendations and consult experts or professionals in the field for any additional advice or insights.