Gas Tungsten ARC Welding

Course Overview

This course provides participants with comprehensive knowledge and hands-on skills in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG). It covers the principles of the GTAW process, equipment setup, shielding gases, electrodes, filler materials, and welding techniques for various metals. Emphasis is placed on welding carbon steels, stainless steels, and non-ferrous alloys with high quality and precision.

Participants will also learn to identify welding defects, apply inspection techniques, and follow international codes (ASME, AWS, ISO) for GTAW applications in piping, pressure vessels, and structural welding. Practical demonstrations and exercises will reinforce theoretical knowledge to ensure competence in real-world applications.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and applications of GTAW/TIG welding.

• Identify and set up GTAW equipment, power sources, and accessories.

• Select appropriate shielding gases, tungsten electrodes, and filler metals.

• Apply proper welding techniques for carbon steel, stainless steel, and non-ferrous alloys.

• Recognize and prevent common GTAW welding defects.

• Understand welding procedure qualifications (WPS, PQR, WPQ) for GTAW.

• Apply safety practices in GTAW operations.

• Conduct visual and nondestructive inspection of GTAW welds.

• Comply with applicable welding codes and standards.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Welding engineers, inspectors, and supervisors

• Welders and welding operators (beginner to intermediate level)

• QA/QC professionals in fabrication and construction

• Maintenance and piping engineers

• Technicians in aerospace, oil & gas, petrochemical, and power generation

• Anyone seeking to develop or improve GTAW welding skills

Daily Course Outlines

Day 1: Introduction to GTAW & Equipment

• Overview of welding processes & role of GTAW

• Principles of GTAW (arc initiation, shielding, heat input control)

• GTAW equipment and accessories: power sources, torches, cables, gas supply

• Types of tungsten electrodes: classification and selection

• Shielding gases (argon, helium, mixtures) and their effects

• Safety precautions in GTAW

Day 2: Welding Variables & Techniques

• Welding parameters: current, voltage, polarity, gas flow, travel speed

• Types of joints in GTAW (butt, fillet, groove, corner)

• GTAW filler metals: classification and applications

• Manual vs. automated GTAW

• Welding techniques for carbon steels

• Hands-on demo: GTAW torch handling & basic weld beads

Day 3: GTAW of Stainless Steel & Non-Ferrous Alloys

• Metallurgical considerations in GTAW of stainless steels

• Welding of duplex and austenitic stainless steels

• GTAW of non-ferrous metals: aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium

• Heat-affected zone (HAZ) control and distortion minimization

• Practical exercises: stainless steel and aluminum welds

Day 4: Welding Procedures, Defects & Inspection

• GTAW procedure qualification requirements (WPS, PQR, WPQ)

• Welding variables: essential, non-essential, supplementary (ASME IX, AWS D1.6)

• Common GTAW weld defects: porosity, lack of fusion, cracks, tungsten inclusion

• Causes and remedies of defects

• Visual inspection of GTAW welds

• Introduction to NDT methods for GTAW: PT, RT, UT

Day 5: Applications, Case Studies & Wrap-Up

• GTAW in critical industries (piping, pressure vessels, aerospace)

• Orbital GTAW for piping and tubing applications

• Advanced GTAW techniques (back purging, pulse TIG)

• QA/QC requirements for GTAW welds

• Case studies of GTAW applications and defect analysis

• Final workshop: preparing WPS/PQR for a GTAW piping project

• Course review, Q&A, and participant assessment