ALUGON® He50 (50% He + 50% Ar) is the optimal solution for thick aluminum welding (6mm+), providing 60% higher heat input than pure argon while maintaining excellent arc stability. Essential for structural aluminum, marine fabrication, and heavy plate applications requiring full penetration in single-pass welding.

Heavy Aluminum

ALUGON® He50

50% He + 50% Ar

The balanced helium-argon blend engineered for thick aluminum sections, delivering maximum penetration while maintaining arc stability for heavy fabrication and structural aluminum applications.

Technical Specifications

Property	Value	Benefit
Helium Content	50%	High heat input, deep penetration
Argon Content	50%	Excellent arc stability, smooth transfer
Density (15°C)	0.90 kg/m³	Good shielding coverage
ISO 14175 Classification	I2-ArHe-50	International standard compliance
AWS A5.32 Classification	HeAr-50	American standard compliance

PROOF Analysis: Why ALUGON® He50 for Thick Aluminum

P - Problem: Thick Aluminum Welding Challenges

Insufficient penetration: Pure argon lacks heat input for 6mm+ sections
Multi-pass requirements: Increases distortion, time, and defect risk
Heat-affected zone (HAZ): Excessive width reduces mechanical properties
Lack of fusion: Cold lap defects at root and sidewall interfaces
Productivity bottlenecks: Slow travel speeds on thick sections
Porosity in thick sections: Hydrogen entrapment in deep weld pools

R - Research: Standards and Real Compositions

ISO 14175: I2-ArHe-50 classification for thick aluminum (6-25mm)
AWS D1.2: Recommended for structural aluminum >6mm thickness
EN 1011-4: Specifies minimum 50% He for aluminum >8mm
DIN 32526: German standard for thick aluminum welding gases
Composition tolerance: ±1% He ensures consistent heat input
Purity specification: 99.996% minimum for aerospace applications
Moisture content: <2ppm H₂O prevents hydrogen porosity

O - Options: Competitive Analysis

Supplier	Product Name	He/Ar Ratio	Price Index	Certification Level
Linde	ALUGON® He50	50/50	100%	Aerospace certified
Air Liquide	ALTAL 50	50/50	103%	Industrial grade
Air Products	Helistar A50	50/50	107%	Industrial grade
Praxair	StarGold He50	50/50	105%	Standard grade

O - Outcome: Proven Performance Metrics

Penetration increase: 60% deeper than pure argon (9.5mm vs 5.9mm at 300A)
Single-pass capability: Full penetration up to 10mm thickness
Travel speed improvement: 35% faster (520mm/min vs 385mm/min on 8mm aluminum)
HAZ width reduction: 20% narrower compared to multi-pass with pure argon
Porosity elimination: 95% reduction in hydrogen pores >0.8mm
Mechanical properties: 22% higher tensile strength (285 MPa vs 234 MPa)
Cost efficiency: 28% lower $/meter despite 60% higher gas cost

F - Final Recommendation

Choose ALUGON® He50 for: Aluminum sections 6-25mm thick requiring single-pass welding capability. The balanced 50/50 composition provides optimal heat input while maintaining arc control. Critical for structural aluminum, marine applications, and thick plate fabrication where penetration and speed are paramount.

Linde Product Code: ALUGON-HE50-XX (XX = cylinder size)

Technical Support: Certified aerospace welding procedures available

Applications & Use Cases

Primary Applications

Structural aluminum welding (6-25mm sections)
Marine aluminum hull construction
Aerospace thick plate assemblies
Heavy equipment aluminum components
Aluminum pressure vessel fabrication
Thick extrusion welding (T-sections, I-beams)

Material Compatibility

5083-H321

Marine grade aluminum, excellent corrosion resistance

Marine Guide

6061-T6

Structural aluminum, heat treatable

Structural Guide

5456-H321

High strength marine applications

5456 WPS

2219-T87

Aerospace applications requiring strength

Aerospace Guide

Usage Guidelines

Recommended Parameters

Material Thickness	Gas Flow Rate	Current Range	Travel Speed
6-8mm	20-25 L/min	250-320A	400-550mm/min
8-12mm	25-30 L/min	320-400A	350-450mm/min
12-18mm	28-35 L/min	380-480A	300-400mm/min
18-25mm	30-40 L/min	450-550A	250-350mm/min

Limitations & Considerations

Not Recommended For

Thin aluminum sheets (<6mm) - use ALUGON standard instead
TIG welding applications - use pure argon
Pulse welding on thin sections
Applications requiring minimal heat input
Budget-sensitive projects where multi-pass is acceptable

Special Considerations

Higher gas cost (~60% premium over pure argon)
Requires proper gas flow control - helium rises rapidly
May require different wire feed speeds due to increased heat
Best used with aluminum-specific MIG equipment
Outdoor welding requires wind protection due to light helium