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

Base Metals (QW-403) Filler Metals and Electrodes (QW-404)

P-Number 23 Group No. N/A Root and Fill
to P-Number 23, Group No. N/A Specification Number: SFA 5.10
Base Metal Thickness Range AWS Classification: ER4043
Groove Welds: 1/16 to 0.75 F-number: 23
For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

Fillet welds: All A-Number: None

Maximum Weld Metal Thickness:
Minimum Outside Diameter Grooves: 0.75
Groove Welds: All Fillets: All
Fillet Welds: All Maximum Bead thickness: 3/16, convex shape
Supplemental Filler Metal: N/A
Consumable Insert: Not Permitted
Postweld Heat Treatment (QW-407)
Pulsed Power Supply: Optional
Temperature: None Penetration Enhancing Flux: Not permitted
Max. Holding Time: N/A Other: Filler metal must be added during all welding.

Preheat (QW-406) Positions (QW-405) Gas (QW-408)

Minimum metal temp.: 50F Positions permitted: All Shielding Gas: Argon, 15 to 45 CFH
Interpass Temp.(Max): 250F Progression when in Vertical: Uphill Backing Gas: None
Preheat Maintenance: Not required Trailing Shield: None

Electrical Characteristics (QW-409) and Related Matters

Weld Electrode or Filler Current Travel Speed Other
Layer Process Class Diameter Type Polarity Volts Amps Tungsten (ipm) Base metal
thickness
Root GTAW ER4043 3/32, 1/8 AC N/A N/A 80 to 110 1/8 3 to 8 < 3/16
AC N/A N/A 90 to 170 1/8 3 to 8 3/16
Fill and
Fillet 1/8, 5/32 AC N/A N/A 125 to 275 5/32 3 to 8

Technique (QW-410)
Tungsten Size and Type: EWP or EWZr, 3/32 through 5/32 Initial Cleaning: Remove grease or oil with acetone, toluene,
Shielding Gas Cup Size: #6 to #12 (3/8 to 3/4 ID) MEK or paint thinner. Mechanically clean only after solvent
Single or Multiple Pass per Side: Either cleaning. Stainless steel fine wire brush immediately before
Single or Multiple electrodes: Single not use chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Contact-tube-to-work distance (stickout):N/A Interpass Cleaning: Stainless wire brush or file each pass.
Backgouging: Grinding or plasma arc followed by grinding Peening: Not permitted
Repair Method: Grinding. Backwelding is permitted. Other: Preheat to 150F if the base metal is over 1/4 thick is
Stringer or Weave Bead: Stringer to small weave 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
3/16 to 1/4 1/32 in. Max.
For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

40 to 55 40 to 55

1/16
Min.

3/4 Nom. 1/16 to 3/32

1/16 to 3/32 1/16 to 3/32
1/8 in Max
3/8 Min. (this is 1/32 in. Max.
correct) Backgrinding is required when using this groove design

Nozzle and Branch Connection Welds

3/32
45 min Nozzle welds are only
min
permitted where the root
side can be backwelded

0 to 3/32
Socket and Slip-on Flange Welds
1/16 min
Y
Y

X 1/16 min Fitting

Approximately
1/16 before
welding
Seal Weld
X

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
 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
For use by NCPWB Members Only ( NCPWB)

Single/Multi-pass: Multiple Single/Multi-electrode: Single

Other:

Weld Electrode or Filler Current Travel Speed Other

Layer Process Class Diameter Type Polarity Volts Current (a) (ipm)

Root GTAW ER4043 1/8 AC N/A N/A 100 to 115 5 to 7

Fill GTAW ER4043 1/8 AC N/A N/A 130 to 160 5 to 7

Reduced Section Tensile Tests X Rectangular Turned Full Section

Specimen Width/Dia (in.) Thickness (in) Area (sq in.) Ultimate load (lb.) Ultimate Stress (psi) Failure Location
1 0.752 0.376 0.283 7,563 26,700 Base Metal
2 0.751 0.381 0.286 7,665 26,800 Base Metal

Bend Tests X Transverse Face and Root Side Longitudinal Face and Root
Type Results Type Results
Root Acceptable Root Acceptable
Face Acceptable Face Acceptable

Toughness Tests Charpy Specimen Size Test Temperature

Specimen Notch Location Ft. Lb. Lateral Expansion (mils) Percent Shear Drop Weight Break No Break
1
2
3
Fillet weld test macro examination: Fillet weld test leg sizes:
Weld deposit analysis:
Other tests:
Welders name: William Jones Stamp: K Welding Witnessed by: Robert Gilroy, Mid-Atlantic Constructors
Tests conducted by: Quality Services Laboratories, Inc. 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 Contractor:
Pipe Welding Bureau
By: Date:

by:
Chairman, Technical Committee NCPWB Form QW-483 PQR No. 052301