What welding process typically employs an inert gas?

The welding process that typically employs an inert gas is Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). This process utilizes a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld, and it requires a shielding gas, usually argon or helium, to protect the weld area from contamination by atmospheric gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The inert gas creates a protective environment, ensuring that the weld pool remains uncontaminated and thereby achieving high-quality welds with excellent mechanical properties.

In GTAW, the tungsten electrode maintains a stable arc and is not consumed in the welding process, which differentiates it from processes such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding, where the electrode itself melts and becomes part of the weld, or Submerged Arc Welding, which uses a blanket of granulated flux to shield the weld area. Flux-Cored Arc Welding may also use shielding gas, but it often relies on the flux present in the welding wire for protection, making GTAW the most representative process focused solely on inert gas use for shielding.