NATIONAL CERTIFIED PIPE WELDING BUREAU

WELDING PROCEDURE SPECIFICATION

NO. 23-3-1
FOR
GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING (GTAW)
OF
ALUMINUM PIPE, VALVES, FITTINGS AND FLANGES
USING ER4043 FILLER METAL

This document is the property of

(NCPWB Member Company Name)

This Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records
(PQRs) are issued by the NCPWB for adoption by its members. Reproduction or
use of this WPS and PQRs by anyone other than Members of the NCPWB is
prohibited

NCPWB

Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)

Member Company Name: ___________________________________________________________
WPS Number 23-3-1
Revision 3
Date issued: December 7, 2009
Welding Process: GTAW, Manual
Supporting PQRs: 052301

Joints (QW-402)
Joint Design: Single or Double V, U or J grooves, Fillets, repairs, build-up and grooves on engineering
drawings or next page
Backing: Optional
Backing or Retainer type: Aluminum

For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

Base Metals (QW-403)

Filler Metals and Electrodes (QW-404)

P-Number 23 Group No. N/A

to P-Number 23, Group No. N/A
Base Metal Thickness Range
Groove Welds: 1/16 to 0.75
Fillet welds: All
Minimum Outside Diameter
Groove Welds: All
Fillet Welds: All

Postweld Heat Treatment (QW-407)

Temperature: None
Max. Holding Time: N/A

Preheat (QW-406)
Minimum metal temp.: 50F
Interpass Temp.(Max): 250F
Preheat Maintenance: Not required

Root and Fill

Specification Number:
SFA 5.10
AWS Classification:
ER4043
F-number:
23
A-Number:
None
Maximum Weld Metal Thickness:
Grooves:
0.75
Fillets:
All
Maximum Bead thickness: 3/16, convex shape
Supplemental Filler Metal:
N/A
Consumable Insert:
Not Permitted
Pulsed Power Supply:
Optional
Penetration Enhancing Flux:
Not permitted
Other: Filler metal must be added during all welding.

Positions (QW-405)
Positions permitted: All
Progression when in Vertical: Uphill

Gas (QW-408)
Shielding Gas: Argon, 15 to 45 CFH
Backing Gas: None
Trailing Shield: None

Electrical Characteristics (QW-409) and Related Matters

Weld
Layer
Root

Process

Electrode or Filler
Class
Diameter Type

GTAW ER4043

Fill and
Fillet

Polarity

Current
Volts
Amps

Tungsten

3/32, 1/8

AC
AC

N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A

80 to 110
90 to 170

1/8
1/8

1/8, 5/32

AC

N/A

N/A

125 to 275

5/32

Travel Speed
Other
(ipm)
Base metal
thickness
3 to 8
< 3/16
3 to 8
3/16
3 to 8

Technique (QW-410)
Tungsten Size and Type: EWP or EWZr, 3/32 through 5/32
Shielding Gas Cup Size: #6 to #12 (3/8 to 3/4 ID)
Single or Multiple Pass per Side: Either
Single or Multiple electrodes: Single
Contact-tube-to-work distance (stickout):N/A
Backgouging: Grinding or plasma arc followed by grinding
Repair Method: Grinding. Backwelding is permitted.
Stringer or Weave Bead: Stringer to small weave

Initial Cleaning: Remove grease or oil with acetone, toluene,

MEK or paint thinner. Mechanically clean only after solvent
cleaning. Stainless steel fine wire brush immediately before
not use chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Interpass Cleaning: Stainless wire brush or file each pass.
Peening: Not permitted
Other: Preheat to 150F if the base metal is over 1/4 thick is
recommended. Use of a balanced wave power supply is
Recommended. A slightly convex bead is preferred.

The undersigned contractor, a member of the National Certified Pipe welding Bureau, hereby adopts this jointly developed
procedure as its Company Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and certifies that this procedure has been qualified as shown on
the attached Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs).
Contractor:
By:

Date:

WPS 23-3-1

Typical Joint Designs for Aluminum Piping Welds

Other Joint Designs shown on the Construction Drawings take precedence over these details.

End Preparation Details

Fit-up Details

30 to 40

1/16 to 3/32

1/16 to 3/32

For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

3/16 to 1/4

1/32 in. Max.

40 to 55

40 to 55

1/16
Min.

3/4 Nom.
1/8 in Max

1/16 to 3/32

1/16 to 3/32

3/8 Min. (this is

correct)

1/16 to 3/32

1/32 in. Max.

Backgrinding is required when using this groove design

Nozzle and Branch Connection Welds

3/32
min

45 min

Nozzle welds are only

permitted where the root
side can be backwelded

0 to 3/32

Socket and Slip-on Flange Welds

1/16 min

Y
X

Seal Weld

1/16 min

Fitting

The following apply unless another size is shown on the engineering drawings:
T is the nominal wall thickness
X = the lesser of 1.4T or the hub thickness
Y = the lesser of 1.1T or the fitting thickness

Approximately
1/16 before
welding

For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

Procedure Qualification Record

Identification of WPS followed during welding of test coupon:
23-3-1, preliminary, 8/8/05
Welding Process(es) used: GTAW, Manual
Date test coupon was welded: 8/16/05
Base Metal Specification: SB-210, 6061-T6
to Base Metal Specification: SB-210, 6061-T6
P-Number:23 Group No: N/A to P-Number:
23 Group No:
N/A Plate/Pipe Diameter: Plate
Base Metal Thickness(in.): 3/8 Joint Type: double V-groove welded from both sides
F-Number: 23
Filler metal specification: SFA 5.10
AWS Classification: ER4043
A-Number: N/A
Weld Deposit Thickness(es)(in.): 3/8
Maximum Pass Thickness: 1/8
Filler metal size: 1/8
Supplementary filler metal: N/A
Preheat temperature (F): 50
Interpass temperature (F) N/A
Welding position/progression: 1G
Current Type and polarity: AC Travel speed (ipm): see below
Shielding gas composition, CFH: Argon, 30
Backing gas composition, CFH:
None
Tungsten size/type: 1/8, EWP
GMAW transfer mode: N/A
Postweld Heat treatment (F): None
Postweld heat treatment time (hr.): N/A
Stringer/Weave bead: Both
Oscillation: N/A
Single/Multi-pass:
Multiple
Single/Multi-electrode: Single
Other:
Weld
Layer

Process

Electrode or Filler
Class
Diameter Type

Root

GTAW

ER4043

Fill

GTAW ER4043

1/8
1/8

Reduced Section Tensile Tests

Specimen
1
2

Width/Dia (in.)
0.752
0.751

Bend Tests

AC
AC

Current
Polarity
Volts

Toughness Tests

N/A

100 to 115

5 to 7

N/A

N/A

130 to 160

5 to 7

X Rectangular

Thickness (in) Area (sq in.)

0.376
0.283
0.381
0.286

Turned

Ultimate load (lb.)

7,563
7,665

Ft. Lb.

Failure Location
Base Metal
Base Metal

Results
Acceptable
Acceptable

Test Temperature

Lateral Expansion (mils)

Fillet weld test macro examination:

Weld deposit analysis:
Other tests:
Welders name: William Jones
Stamp: K
Tests conducted by:
Quality Services Laboratories, Inc.

Full Section

Longitudinal Face and Root

Type
Root
Face

Charpy Specimen Size

Other

Ultimate Stress (psi)

26,700
26,800

Side

Results
Acceptable
Acceptable

Specimen Notch Location

1
2
3

Travel Speed
(ipm)

N/A

X Transverse Face and Root

Type
Root
Face

Current (a)

Percent Shear

Drop Weight Break

No Break

Fillet weld test leg sizes:

Welding Witnessed by: Robert Gilroy, Mid-Atlantic Constructors

Laboratory test number: 01-287

We hereby certify that the statements in this record are correct and that the test welds were prepared, welded and tested in accordance with the
requirements of Section IX of the ASME Code.

National Certified
Pipe Welding Bureau

Contractor:
By:

by:
Chairman, Technical Committee

NCPWB Form QW-483

Date:

PQR No. 052301