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Improve Weld Root Profiles!
Extending the HFT® range of products, we manufacture Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®, specifically for supporting weld roots and to provide very even weld root profiles.
The Weld Backing Tape® comprises a 75 mm wide aluminium adhesive tape that has a 25 mm wide fibre glass band in the centre onto which the weld can be cast.
Welding speeds can be dramatically increased with the help of Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®. The resulting weld is neat, clean and requires minimal post weld attention.
HFT®’s Glass Fibre Weld Backing Tape® has no true melting point, unlike Ceramic Fibre, which has a melting point of 1,800ºC, causing concern when temperatures during TIG welding can reach up to 6,000ºC.
Typically for the welding of thin wall stainless steel sheet and vessels from one side only, the backing tape can be attached to the backside of the weld, to support the weld pool, keep the argon from the weld torch surrounding the weld pool and eliminate the need to back purge, while giving a consistent high quality underbead profile.
For purging large vessels, the tremendous savings of purge gas and waiting time pays for the use of the backing tape many times over.
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Read MoreSupport Weld Roots and Save Costs
Using Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® will significantly reduce linear and circumferential seam welding costs.
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® allows faster welding speeds and greater production rates while producing smooth profile and flat, clean weld underbeads.
With Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®, it is now possible to make welds from one side only, where double sided welding used to be applied. This eliminates the need for expensive weld preparations and the need for back gouging.
Because weld roots are flat and clean when using Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®, post weld dressing and cleaning costs are dramatically reduced.
The cost of Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® is paid for on each weld as well as making additional cost savings through increased welding speed and reduced weld cleaning.
Where large volumes are filled with expensive inert gas to prevent oxidised welds, the use of Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® allows welders to complete the work quickly without the cost of inert gas and lengthy waiting times for purging.
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® and Argweld Weld Purge Tape® are available for immediate delivery.
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Read MoreWelding Currents up to 600 Amps
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® is a glass fibre weld backing system for supporting the weld pool, casting a smooth, flat weld bead free of icicles or drop through. This protects the weld root from the formation of heavy oxidation.
Attaching the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® to the backside of a weld, allows the welding of joints from one side only, eliminating the need for double sided welding.
By using the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®, no back gouging or back grinding process will be required.
The Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® will trap the argon or other shield gas from the weld torch to hold the gas surrounding the weldpool, effectively providing a back purge facility and keeping the weld free from heavy oxidation.
In the case of vessels, tanks, containers etc, Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® eliminates the need to back purge the whole vessel, while giving a consistent high quality underbead profile.
Using Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®, it is possible to weld with MIG, (GMAW), MMA (GMAW), TIG (GTAW) or plasma (PAW) processes for the joining of all metals including stainless, duplex, chrome and nickel steels.
With Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® welds can be made faster, thereby increasing production rate and reducing manufacturing costs.
The support of the molten weld pool allows excellent side wall fusion thus helping to eliminate weld defects.
Post-weld cleaning and grinding labour costs are dramatically reduced because oxidation is prevented by the enclosure of the weld during its heating and cooling phases.
In cases of welding large diameter pipes or vessels, there will be a massive purge gas savings by using backing tape instead filling complete pipes or vessels.
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® can be used for horizontal or vertical welding and results are so successful that there is rarely need for re-welding or re-work.
Using Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® will not change the chemistry or metallurgy of the weld.
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Read MoreTypical Uses and Applications
The Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® can be used for welding sheet, plate, pipes, vessels, tanks, silos, heat exchangers, cryogenic, pressure and vacuum vessels and hundreds of other applications made from metals such as:
• Carbon steels
• Stainless steels
• Duplex steels
• Chrome steels
• Copper nickel
• Cast iron
• Nickel and cobalt alloys
Industries using Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® include large pipework, sheet and plate fabricators as well as shipbuilding, ship repair, heating, cooling, HVAC, agricultural machinery, food, dairy, breweries pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and many others.
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Read MoreTechnical Data and Specification
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® consists of a high temperature heat resistant adhesive aluminium backing foil of 76 mm (3") wide with a heat resistant band of woven glass fibre cloth 25 mm (1") wide in the centre.
The carrier tape is coated on one side with non-contaminating, non-toxic adhesive that bonds the glass fibre backing strip firmly to the metal joint to be welded.
The glass fibre cloth has a weight of 1000 grams per square metre.
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® is available in three grades:
Low Current Grade 80 amps (ABT0004)
• 1.5 mm (1/16") thick fibre glass band.
• Typically for welding up to 80 amps with TIG/GTAW.
• Will weld materials up to 1.6 mm (1/16") thick.
• Tungsten electrode diameter of 1.6 mm (1/16").
• Welding speed of 600 mm/min (24"/min).
• Supplied in rolls of 25 metres (80") length.
Medium Current Grade 160 amps (ABT0005)
• 2.5 mm (1/10") thick fibre glass band.
• Typically for welding up to 160 amps with TIG/GTAW.
• Will weld materials up to 6 mm (1/4") thick.
• Tungsten Electrode diameter of 1.6 or 2.4 mm (1/16th or 3/32").
• Welding speed of 500 mm/min (20"/min).
• Supplied in rolls of 12.5 metres (40") length.
High Current Grade 240 amps (ABT0006)
• 3 mm (1/8") thick fibre glass band.
• Typically for welding up to 240 amps with TIG/GTAW.
• Will weld materials up to 10 mm (1/2") thick.
• Tungsten Electrode diameter of 2.4 mm or 3.2 mm (3/32" or 1/8").
• Welding speed of 450 mm/min (18"/min).
• Supplied in rolls of 12.5 metres (40") length.
SUPER Heavy Amperage 600 amps (ABT0007)
• Comprising 76 mm (3") adhesive heat resistant aluminium tape with 25 mm (1") wide (thick weave) glass fibre tape in the centre.
• Will weld materials up to 10 mm (1/2") thick.
• Roll length is 12.5 metres (40 ft).
• Nett Weight 1.2 kgs.
• Gross weight 1.4 kgs and Volumetric weight 1.4 kgs
Argweld® Aluminium Weld Purge Tape®
If lengths need to be joined, rolls of compatible Argweld® Aluminium Weld Purge Tape® with integral non-contaminating adhesive are available from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® or from your nearest Distributor.
Argweld® Aluminium Weld Purge Tape® consists of a high temperature heat resistant adhesive aluminium backing foil of 51 mm (2") wide without a heat resistant band of woven glass fibre cloth in the centre.
Supplied in rolls of 45 metres length.
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Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
1.0 Does the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® support the weld?
Yes, Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® will support the weld pool for a single-sided weld, as long as the current constraints for the tape are followed.
2.0 What effect will the adhesive have on the weld?
The adhesive will not contaminate the weld. It is easily removed from the metal at the side of the weld after the weld has had a chance to cool.
3.0 What amperage can the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® withstand?
The Light Duty Grade is recommended for welding currents up to 80 Amps.
The Medium Duty Grade is suitable for welding currents up to 160 Amps.
The Heavy Duty Grade is for welding currents up to 240 Amps.
The Super Heavy Grade is suitable for welding up to 600 Amps.
4.0 Can Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® be reused?
After the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® has been used one time, the properties of the glass fibre will be degraded to prevent further use and in addition, the adhesive may not work twice.
5.0 What is the length of a roll of Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®?
The light duty material has 25 metres (82 ft) on the roll. This is sufficient for welding a tank/vessel of 8 metres (26 ft) diameter, or a number of smaller ones. The medium, the heavy and super heavy duty rolls have 12.5 metres (41 ft).
6.0 What applications is the Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® designed for?
Sheet to sheet, plate to plate, pressure vessels, large diameter pipes and tanks, longitudinal and circumferential seams, to support the weld pool.
Or anywhere that a back purge is desired but not possible or too expensive with gas. Or for any weld that requires extensive post weld grinding and polishing, so that post weld cleaning is reduced almost to zero.
Plus any welds that have to be welded from both sides for a number of reasons. Argweld® Backing Tape® permits single sided welding in some cases and saves large amounts of time and money.
7.0 What metals can be welded with Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®?
All weldable metals including copper nickel, carbon, stainless, duplex steels, alloy steels, nickel & cobalt alloys and titanium.
8.0 What welding processes can I use with Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®?
TIG/GTAW, FCAW and MIG/GMAW. The constraints are the current. 80 amps for the lightweight grade, 160 amps for the medium grade, 240 Amps for the heavy duty grade and 600 Amps for the extra heavy duty grade.
9.0 What advantages does Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® have over backing bars and purging dams?
There is a major practical advantage by not having to use expensive and difficult to use backing bars. Backing bars need to be manipulated and held in place with complicated and expensive fixturing.
10.0 Are there any fumes given off when welding onto Argweld® Weld Backing Tape®?
There are no noxious nor toxic fumes given off when welding onto backing tape.
11.0 What is the difference between Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® and backing tiles?
Weld Backing Tape® is the more economical solution for welding currents up to 600 amps. For welding currents above 600 amps, it is better to use the more expensive ceramic backing tile alternative.
12.0 What is the difference between Ceramic tape and Argweld® Backing Tape®?
Tig/GTAW welding arcs can reach temperatures of 6000ºC for which Argweld® Backing Tape® is suitable. Ceramic tape however does not perform well at high temperatures and will crumble, thus letting air into the weld zone and causing oxidation that has to be removed.
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Read MoreShipping Information, Weights and Dimensions
Customs Tariff:
| European Customs Tariff: | 7019 1100 |
| International Customs Tariff: | 7019 90 5050 |
| United States Customs Tariff: | 7019 90 5050 |
| Canada: | |
| For Weld Purge Tape (ABT0003): | 7019 40 9000 |
| For Weld Backing Tape (ABT0004 to ABT0006): | 7019 51 9010 |
Large quantities are manufactured in batches and are usually available from stock at all times for immediate delivery.
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Product Codes and Sizes
| PART Nº | PRODUCT DESCRIPTION |
| ABT0003 | Argweld® Aluminium Weld Purge Tape® only without glass woven support. Comprising 2" (51 mm) wide adhesive heat resistant Aluminium Weld Purge Tape®. Roll length is 144ft (45 metres) Nett weight 0.5 kgs Gross weight 0.5 kgs Volumetric weight 0.5 kgs |
| ABT0004 | Argweld® Low Amperage Weld Backing Tape® for use up to 80 amps. Comprising 3" (76mm) adhesive heat resistant aluminium tape with 25 mm (1") wide (light weave) glass fibre tape in the centre. Roll length is 80 ft (25 metres) Nett Weight 1.3 kgs Gross weight 1.4 kgs Volumetric weight 1.4 kgs |
| ABT0005 | Argweld® Medium Amperage Weld Backing Tape® for use up to 160 amps. Comprising 3" (76mm) adhesive heat resistant aluminium tape with 25 mm (1") wide (medium weave) glass fibre tape in the centre. Roll length is 40 ft (12.5 metres) Nett Weight 1.2 kgs Gross weight 1.4 kgs Volumetric weight 1.4 kgs |
| ABT0006 | Argweld® Heavy Amperage Weld Backing Tape® for use up to 240 amps. Comprising 3" (76mm) adhesive heat resistant aluminium tape with 25 mm (1") wide (thick weave) glass fibre tape in the centre. Roll length is 40ft (12.5 metres) Nett Weight 1.2 kgs Gross weight 1.4 kgs Volumetric weight 1.4 kgs |
| ABT0007 | Argweld® SUPER Heavy Amperage Weld Backing Tape® for use up to 600 amps. Comprising 3" (76mm) adhesive heat resistant aluminium tape with 25 mm (1") wide (thick weave) glass fibre tape in the centre. Roll length is 40ft (12.5 metres) Nett Weight 1.2 kgs Gross weight 1.4 kgs Volumetric weight 1.4 kgs |
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Read MoreItems available as 'Downloads'
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Special Note: The items below are restricted and only available in our Secure Login section. This is mainly for the protection of our Exclusive Distributor network. Should you wish to receive an item mentioned below which is not active as a 'download' link on this page, please contact us or your nearest Distributor.
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® User Instructions Technical Manual
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® User List Customer Reference
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Certificate of Conformity
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Technical Data Sheet TDS
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Quick Guide Technical Data Sheet TDS
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Full Guide Technical Data Sheet TDS
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Technical Data Sheet TDS Detailed Weld Results
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Technical Data Sheet TDS Weld Results
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Technical Notes
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Training Poster
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Information Request for Sample Pack
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Information Request for Sample Pack Cover
Argweld® Weld Backing Tape® Price List
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