What type of electrodes are used with GTAW?

• A. Consumable electrodes made of pure tungsten
• B. Non-consumable electrodes made of pure tungsten or tungsten alloy with a melting point around 6200 deg F
• C. Copper-coated electrodes with low melting points
• D. Electrodes that require normal welding rod deposits

Answer: (B)

In GTAW the electrode must carry the arc without melting away, so a non-consumable tungsten electrode is used. Tungsten has an exceptionally high melting point—about 6,200°F (around 3,410°C)—which lets the electrode conduct the arc without fusing into the weld. The electrodes are typically pure tungsten or a tungsten alloy chosen to improve performance, such as alloys with small amounts of additives (like cerium, lanthanum, or thorium) to enhance electron emission and arc stability. In GTAW you generally provide filler metal separately with a filler rod, and the weld region is protected by shielding gas. That’s why materials described as consumable or with lower melting points—like copper-coated electrodes or those requiring other deposits—don’t fit GTAW.