Why is a purge or backing gas not necessary when welding carbon steel using the gtaw process but is necessary when welding higher chromes. Is it the chrome content?en
Well yes, plus the different effects of oxidising carbon steel and stainless steel. The stainless steel is more dependent upon maintaining a 'pristine' surface for such things as corrosion performance than is carbon steel. A heavily scaled stainless steel won't perform very well in corrosive media.
You need the back purging to avoid the oxydation of the welding that in certain environments can lead to higher or non expected corrosion.
Above a certain content of Cr in the material, if i remember well 5%, you always need the back puring.