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Technical Know ledge > Technical Know ledge > Job Know ledge > W elding consumables - Part 3 Share:

Job Know ledge

Welding consumables - Part 3
Job Knowledge 84
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4
Part 5
The last tw o articles covered the various types of manual metal arc
consumables that are available.
In order to be able to specify the type of flux coating, w elding
characteristics and chemical composition of an electrode for a particular
application, there needs to be some standardised method of unique
identification that is universally recognised.
This requirement has led to the w riting of a series of consumable
specifications that enable an electrode to be easily and uniquely identified
by assigning a consumable a 'classification'. The tw o MMA electrode
classification schemes that w ill be dealt w ith in this month's article are the
EN (Euronorm) and the AW S (American W elding Society) specifications.
There is insufficient space to cover in detail the w hole range of
compositions for MMA electrodes so the emphasis here w ill be on the carbon steel filler metals.
The European specification for non-alloy and fine grained steel MMA electrodes is EN 499. This divides the
classification or designation number into tw o parts. Part 1 is a compulsory section that requires symbols for the
process, strength and elongation, impact strength, the chemical composition and the type of flux coating. The
second part is optional and includes that includes symbols for the type of current and metal recovery, the
w elding position(s) that the electrode can be used in and for the maximum hydrogen content of the deposited
w eld metal (NOT the electrode).
The designation of a covered electrode begins w ith the letter 'E'. This tells us that this is a covered electrode
intended for MMA w elding. The next tw o numbers give the minimum yield strength that may be expected as
show n in Table 1.
Table 1 Strength and elongation symbols

Symbol Min Y ield Strength Tensile Strength Minimum

N/mm N/mm Elongation %
35 355 440 - 570 22
38 380 470 - 600 20
42 420 500 - 640 20
46 460 530 - 680 20
50 500 560 - 720 18
The next symbol indicates the temperature at w hich an average impact value of 47J can be achieved, as show n
in Table 2.
Table 2 Impact value symbol

Symbol Temperature for

average of 47J C
Z No requirement
A +20
0 0
2 -20
3 -30
4 -40
5 -50
6 -60
The third mandatory symbol is for the composition. Although the specification title (non-alloy and fine grained
steels) suggests that the electrodes have no alloying elements present, up to 3% Ni and NiMo electrodes are
included, see Table 3. (This symbol is only applied w here the electrode contains 0.3Mo or 0.6Ni).
Table 3 Chemical composition symbols

Symbol Chemical composition % max or range

Mn Mo Ni
No symbol 2.0 - -
Mo 1.4 0.3 - 0.6 -

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Mo 1.4 0.3 - 0.6 -
MnMo >1.4 - 2.0 0.3 - 0.6 -
1Ni 1.4 - 0.6 - 1.2
2Ni 1.4 - 1.8 - 2.6
3Ni 1.4 - >2.6 - 3.8
Mn1Ni >1.4 - 2.0 - 0.6 - 1.2
1NiMo 1.4 0.3 - 0.6 0.6 - 1.2
Z Any other agreed composition
The fourth symbol indicates the type of flux coating - basic, rutile etc as show n in Table 4.
Table 4 Symbol for flux coating
Symbol Coating
A acid
C cellulosic
R rutile
RR thick rutile
RC rutile-cellulosic
RA rutile-acid
RB rutile-basic
B basic
The next three symbols are not compulsory and give additional information on the percentage w eld metal
recovery and the type of w elding current on w hich the electrode can be operated (Table 5); the w elding position
(Table 6) and the maximum hydrogen content of the deposited w eld metal if the electrodes are dried or baked
as recommended by the manufacturer (Table 7).
Table 5 Symbol for weld metal recovery and current type
Symbol Weld metal recovery % Current type
1 <= 105 AC or DC+
2 <= 105 DC+ or DC-
3 >105<=125 AC or DC+
4 >105<=125 DC+ or DC-
5 >125<=160 AC or DC+
6 >125<=160 DC+ or DC-
7 >160 AC or DC+
8 >160 DC+ or DC-

Table 6 Symbols for welding position

Symbol Welding position
1 All positions
2 All positions except V-dow n
3 Flat butt and fillet w elds, HV fillet w eld
4 Flat
5 V-dow n, flat butt, flat and HV fillet w elds
Table 7 Symbol for hydrogen content in weld metal
Max Hydrogen
Symbol ml/100gms weld metal
H5 5
H10 10
H15 15
A full designation may therefore read E42 2 B32H5. This describes a basic carbon manganese steel electrode;
w eld metal yield strength of 420N/mm2, better than 47J at -20C, a w eld metal recovery of over 105%, capable
of being used on AC or DC+ current in all positions except vertical dow n and providing less than 5mls hydrogen
in the w eld metal.
The AW S specification equivalent to EN 499 is AW S A5.1 - Carbon Steel
Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding. The classification comprises five
characters but in the 2004 edition of the specification there are tw o
separate schemes. A5.1, based on the US units of tensile strength in
pounds per square inch, Charpy -V values in foot-pounds and A5.1M,
based on the SI system, w ith strength in MPa, Charpy-V values in Joules.
It is thus possible to have virtually identical electrodes w ith different
classifications, one using US units, the other SI units. There is insufficient
space w ithin this brief article to describe fully all of the 18 types covered
by the specification except perhaps for the most commonly used
electrodes. For full details of the AW S scheme it is necessary to consult
the specification.
To illustrate briefly how the electrodes are classified, the follow ing gives a summary of the key features.
The first character 'E' is common to both classifications and indicates that the electrode is a flux coated manual
metal arc electrode. The next tw o digits indicate the tensile strength. In the A5.1 designation this is either
'60',indicating a UTS of 60ksi and a yield strength of 48ksi, or '70', indicating a UTS of 70ksi and a yield strength
of 58ksi. In the A5.1M designation these are 43 or 49, indicating a UTS of 430MPa, yield strength of 330MPa or
490MPa UTS,400MPa yield respectively.
The last tw o digits give information on flux coating type, w elding position, current type and polarity and Charpy-
V impact strength, if required. Those electrodes suffixed XX10 or XX11 have cellulosic coatings; those suffixed
XX12,XX13, XX14, XX19 or XX24 have rutile coatings and those suffixed XX15, XX16, XX18, XX28 and XX48 are
basic low hydrogen. XX18, XX28 and XX48 all have iron pow der additions and are therefore high recovery
electrodes.
Listed below are those EN and AW S specifications that prescribe the requirements for ferrous electrodes.

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 BS EN 499 Non-alloyed and fine grained steel electrodes
BS EN 757 High strength steels
BS EN 1599 Creep resisting steels
BS EN 1600 Stainless and heat resisting steels
AW S A5.1/A5.1M Carbon Steel Electrodes for SMAW
AW S A5.4 Stainless Steel Electrodes for SMAW
AW S A5.5 Low Alloy Steel Electrodes for SMAW
This article w as w ritten by Gene Mathers.

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