In the United States, the standard shielding gas used in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is generally a 75/25 percent argon (Ar)/carbon dioxide (CO2) gas mixture.
Argon is a relatively expensive gas. A less costly weld grade CO2 gas as a replacement for Ar/CO2 mixtures is used for welding applications in Asian countries including Japan, China, and Korea. In Japan, the use of a CO2 shielding gas has all but replaced the typical Ar/CO2 mixture.
In fact, statistics show that in Japan, GMAW with a CO2 shielding gas accounts for 94 percent of the total gas usage. GMAW using an Ar/CO2 mixture accounts for only six percent. The usage rate of CO2 for GMAW in other Asian countries is reported to be even higher than that of Japan.
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