What is the primary purpose of high frequency in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)?

The primary purpose of high frequency in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is to initiate the arc while the electrode and the workpiece are separated. This process is crucial because it allows the welder to create a stable arc without having the tungsten electrode make contact with the workpiece, which could contaminate the electrode and negatively affect the quality of the weld. The high frequency system generates sufficiently high voltage to establish the arc, which ensures the welding process can begin smoothly.

In contrast, increasing the temperature of the welding arc is typically managed through other means such as adjusting the welding current, not by high frequency alone. The sound produced during welding is not significantly influenced by high frequency settings; this option misunderstands the role of high frequency in the process. Lastly, while high frequency may help in stabilizing and controlling the weld pool, its primary function is not directly related to improving the purity of the weld pool, which primarily involves other welding parameters and practices.