Hot‑wire TIG is a cost‑effective hardfacing process widely used for pipe inner walls and valve components. Unlike cold‑wire TIG, it pre‑heats the filler wire before it enters the molten pool, bringing higher deposition efficiency without excessive heat input to base metal.
This process achieves moderate dilution rates, sitting between plasma cladding and conventional MIG hardfacing. It works well for nickel‑based and stainless overlay materials. Combined with seam tracking systems, hot‑wire TIG delivers stable results for long pipe inner cladding, offering a cost‑balanced alternative to laser or PAW solutions for mass production.