TIG welding (GTAW) requires the following types of materials: Gases (inert gases: Ar argon, helium He), non-melting electrodes (welding needles), secondary welds.

Gas protection

The most common protection gas in TIG welding machine is argon gas. Argon gas must meet the purity requirements of 99.967% of the low vapor fraction below 0.005mg / l. Helium can also be used as a protective gas in TIG welding commonly used in combination with argon and the ratio of helium can account for up to 75% of the gas mixture. There are also Argon gas mixtures with hydrogen such as mixtures of 5% hydrogen, 15% hydrogen, 35% hydrogen for welding stainless steel. Argon mixtures with nitrogen are also used for copper welding.

Non-melting electrode (tungsten)
Vofram electrode in TIG welding

TIG Tungsten Electrode is used as an electrode because it has high heat resistance, high melting temperature of 3410 degrees Celsius, with such temperature tungsten electrode will not be melted due to the temperature of the arc welding. The tungsten electrodes also have good electronic emission capabilities, so they can create arc ionization and arc retention. On the other hand tungsten is highly oxidized, rustless, oxidized by oxidation. American Welding Association AWS A 5.12-80 states:

Standard tungsten electrodes range from 0.25 to 6.4mm with a length of 76 to 610mm
Due to tungsten and rare metal elements, TIG welding electrodes are quite expensive and should be used to avoid damage, loss or waste.

TIG welding rods

Because TIG welding can be used to weld all solderable metals, the choice of welding rods is very wide. Below is a list of reference standards when welding some popular metals