In AC GTAW, which area receives the majority of welding heat?

• A. The tungsten
• B. The work
• C. The filler rod
• D. The shielding gas

Answer: (B)

In GTAW, the arc delivers most of its heat into the weld zone on the workpiece. The tungsten electrode is non-consumable and mainly serves to generate the arc, so it doesn’t absorb as much heat as the base metal does when melting and forming the weld pool. The filler rod adds material and does melt, but the energy to melt and heat the weld area largely comes from the arc itself and is deposited into the work. The shielding gas protects the arc and molten metal, but it doesn’t carry away significant heat. So the workpiece ends up absorbing the majority of the welding heat.