Tungsten Alloy for Welding

Tungsten alloy welding rod used in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is made of tungsten alloy, because it has the highest melting temperature among metals, at 3,422 °C (6,192 °F). As a result, the tungsten alloy welding rod is not consumed during welding, though some erosion (called burn-off) can occur. They can have either a clean finish or a ground finish—clean finish, which have been chemically cleaned, while ground tungsten alloy welding rods have been ground to a uniform size and have a polished surface, making them optimal for heat conduction. The diameter of the welding rod can vary between 0.5 and 6.4 millimeters (0.02 and 0.25 in), and their length can range from 75 to 610 millimeters (3.0 to 24 in).