Gases for Welding & Cutting

Introduction of the international standard

Classification of process gases

The standardisation of gases for fusion welding and allied processes is uniform throughout the world under the International DIN EN ISO 14175. Until now these gases have been standardised under DIN EN 439. The following comparison table shows at a glance the allocation of products from the Messer range of gases and informs you of the corresponding designation.

as DIN EN 439
low reactive N2 Components in percentage by volume reducing inert oxidising H2 He Ar
100 100 >0 to 5
balance balance2) balance2) balance2) balance2) balance2) balance2) balance2) >3 to 10 balance2) >3 to 10 balance2)

as DIN EN ISO 14175

Designation as EN 439 Our products Our products Designation as ISO 14175 Designation Main Sub group group CO2 oxidising Components in percentage by volume inert reducing O2 Ar
100 100
balance 0,5 He 95

Designation Sub Main group group CO2

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 M1 I

O2

He

H2

low reactive N2

I1 I2 I3 M11 (1) M12 M12 (1) M13 M14 M21 M21 (1) M21 M22 M23 M24

>0 to 5 >0 to 5 >0 bis 3 >0 bis 3

>0 to 5 >5 to 25

>0 to 8

>0 to 5 >5 to 25

M2

Welding argon 4.6 Argon 4.8 Helium 4.6 Alumix He 30/50/70/90 Inoxmix He30 H2 C Inoxmix C2 Inoxmix He15 C2 Inoxmix X2 Inoxmix C3 X1 Ferromix C8 Ferromix He20 C8 Ferromix C18/C25 Ferromix X4/X8 Ferromix C5 X5 Ferromix C6 X1 Ferromix C12 X2 Ferromix C15 X5

Welding argon 4.6 Argon 4.8 Helium 4.6 Alumix He 30/50/70/90 Inoxmix C2 Inoxmix He15 C2 Inoxmix X2 Inoxmix C3 X1 Ferromix C8 Ferromix He20 C8 Ferromix C18/C25 Ferromix X4/X8 Ferromix C5 X5 Ferromix C6 X1 Ferromix C12 X2 Ferromix C15 X5

I1 I2 I3-ArHe-30 (50/70/90) M12-ArC-2 M12-ArHeC-15/2 M13-ArO-2 M14-ArCO-3/1 M20-ArC-8 M20-ArHeC-20/8 M21-ArC-18 (25) M22-ArO-4 (8) M23-ArCO-5/5 M24-ArCO-6/1 M24-ArCO-12/2 M25-ArCO-15/5 I

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 1

0,5 CO2 5 0,5 CO2 5 0,5 O2 3 0,5 CO2 5 0,5 O2 3 5 < CO2 15 15 < CO2 25

balancea) balancea)

0,5 H2 5

M1

balancea) balancea)

M2

3 < O2 10 balancea) 0,5 CO2 5 3 < O2 10 balancea) 5 < CO2 15 5 < CO2 15 15 < CO2 25 15 < CO2 25 25 < CO2 50 25 < CO2 50 5 < CO2 25 25 < CO2 50 100 Rest 0,5 O2 3 3 < O2 10 0,5 O2 3 3 < O2 10 10 < O2 15 2 < O2 10 10 < O2 15 10 < O2 15 0,5 O2 30
balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea) balancea)

balance2) balance2) >10 to 15 balance2)

>25 to 50

1 2 M3 M3 3 1 2 1 2 1 C1 R1 Carbonic acid Inoxmix H2/5/7 Carbonic acid Inoxmix H2/5/7 C1 R1-ArH-2 (5/7)

>8 to 15

>5 to 50 100 Rest

>0 to 30 >0 to 5 >15 to 35 100

balance2) balance2)

C R F

C R N

0,5 H2 15 15 H2 50 100

Inoxmix N1/N2 Inoxmix He15 N1

N2-ArN-1,25 (2,5) N2-ArHeN-15/1,25

balancea) balancea) balancea)

0,5 N2 5 5 < N2 50 0,5 H2 10 0,5 N2 5 0,5 H2 50 balance

Rest

>0 to 50

2 S S S S I1 I3 I3 I3 + + + +

F2 0,015 0,015 0,015 0,015 N2 N2 N2 N2

Forming gas (5/8/12/) Alumix N Alumix He15 N Alumix He30 N Alumix He50 N Inoxmix N1/N2 Inoxmix He15 N1 Inoxmix He15 H2 N

Forming gas (5/8/12/) Alumix N Alumix He15 N Alumix He30 N Alumix He50 N Inoxmix He30 H2 C

N5-NH-5 (8/12/) O Z-ArN-0,015 Z-ArHeN-15/0,015 Z-ArHeN-30/0,015 Z-ArHeN-50/0,015 Z-ArHeHC-30/2/0,12

100

Mixed gases with components not includes in the table or mixed gases with a composition outside of the given areas. b)

S I1 + 1,25(2,5) N2 S I3 + 1,25 N2 S I3 + 0,015 N2

Inoxmix He15 H2 N

Z-ArHeHN-15/2/0,015

1) If components not included in the table are added, the mixed gas is designated as special gas with the letter S. Section 4 DIN EN 439 gives details. 2) Argon can be replaced by helium by up to 95%. The helium part is shown by an additional reference number in acc. with Table 3, see Section 4 DIN EN 439.

a) For this classification, argon may be replaced in whole or in part by helium. b) Two mixed gases with the same Z classification may not replace each other. Alumix is marketed in Germany without nitrogen additive.

Changes have been made to the group classifications, the mix accuracy, the permissible humidity and the names of the main groups.
Main groups In the main groups the changes only affect the forming gases and special gases. The groups have been renamed N and Z. The group Oxygen O has been added.

as DIN EN 439
inert gases and inert mixed gases oxidising, argon-based mixed gases containing oxygen and/or carbon dioxide stronger oxidising gases and mixed gases reducing mixed gases low reactive gas or reducing mixed gases Gases, which in terms of their composition are not listed in Table 2, are designated as special gases and are denoted by the letter S I M1, M2, M3 C R F I M1, M2, M3 C R N O

as DIN EN ISO 14175

inert gases and inert mixed gases oxidising mixed gases with oxygen and/or carbon dioxide stronger oxidising gases and mixed gases reducing mixed gases low reactive gas or reducing mixed gas with nitrogen Oxygen Mixed gases with components not included in Table 2 or mixed gases, whose composition lies outside of the area of Table 2.

Note: oxygen and special gases are not included as main groups in EN 439.

Humidity and Purity The maximum permitted humidity of the gas groups O and C has changed. Already for many years

the purities used in practice have exceeded the standard by a long way.

as DIN EN 439
Humidity (ppm) Dew point (C) max. at 0,101 Mpa 40 -50 40 -50 80 -44 120 -40 200 -35 40 -50 40 -50 200 -35 40 -50 Purity (%) min. 99,99 99,7 99,7 99,7 99,7 99,95 99,5 99,5 99,5 Main group EN 439 I M1 M2 M3 C R F Oxygen Hydrogen Main group ISO 14175 I M1 M2 M3 Ca R N O

as DIN EN ISO 14175

Purity (%) min. 99,99 99,9 99,9 99,9 99,8 99,95 99,9 99,5 Dew point (C) Humidity (ppm) at 0,101 Mpa max -50 40 -50 40 -44 80 -40 120 -40 120 -50 40 -50 40 -50 40

Note: for certain applications a greater purity and / or a lower dew point could be recommendable in order to avoid possible oxidation and contamination.

Tolerances of mixtures In regard to accuracy of mix no definition is made for additions < 1 %.

For additions over 1% nothing has changed.

as DIN EN 439
Comment Additive 0% to 5% > 5% to 50% Accuracyy 0,5% absolute 10% from target Accuracyy

as DIN EN ISO 14175

0,5% absolute 10% from target Additive < 1% 1% to 5% > 5% Comment Not defined in ISO 14175

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