Heat Resistant Covers Protect Weld Purging System in Hot Temperatures

Weld Purging is essential when welding metal tubes and pipes made from stainless steel, titanium and zirconium, in order to achieve non-oxidised, zero color welds. Damaging or bursting the inflatable dams on your Tube and Pipe Weld Purging System due to exposure to high temperatures can be a thing of the past now with Argweld® Heat Resistant Covers available from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT®; Carms, UK).

“As we manufacture the HotPurge® System from 6 in upwards, to be used for heated pipework up to 760 deg C, we decided to make a much lower cost option for companies who were only concerned about overheating the unprotected dams on our PurgElite® and PurgExtra® Systems,” explained Luke Keane of distributor support for HFT. “We have designed Heat Resistant Covers for both our systems with a temperature endurance of up to 300 deg C, available from 1 in to 24 in.”

The covers are fixed onto the Tube and Pipe Weld Purging System with ties and holes are provided for the PurgElite and PurgExtra fittings, such as inlet, exhaust and crimped end. They are usually provided as pairs, although they can be purchased individually in case of damage or loss. For pipes that need to have the joints and the heat affected zones heat-treated to higher temperatures, HFT manufactures center extensions for both the systems so the bags sit just outside of the heated zone, where the temperature has fallen away, below 300 deg C.

HFT manufactures a complete Family Range of Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems, including QuickPurge®, HotPurge, PurgElite, PurgExtra and single Weld Purge Dams, all of which are designed to purge the contaminating gases from the rear of the joint, helping achieve zero colour welds time after time. Many shops still fabricate their own home-made purging systems made of foam, cardboard, adhesive tape, wood and so on. Like paper, these materials contain a high percentage of water, which is undesirable to have in the presence of a weld. As these poor materials are warmed by the welding operation, they start to outgas, which when combined with the weld pool can cause porosity and oxidation.

These new Tube and Pipe Weld Purging Systems pay for themselves in the first weld, saving vast amounts of purging time and inert gas costs (Return on Investment Comparisons are available).

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Limited HFT, Burry Port, Carms, SA16 0BU, UK, 44-1-554- 836-836, 877-431-1311, Fax; 321-984-8455, www.huntingdonfusion.com.