10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

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SUBMERGED ARC WELDING

CONSUMABLES. PART 2 -
SPECIFICATIONS

  

Job Knowledge 88

Part 1

Part 3

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Of all the arc welding processes, only submerged arc welding uses two completely separate
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components, both of which may have a major e ect on the mechanical properties of the
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weld deposit. This makes the specifying of consumables somewhat complicated. It will not

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10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

be possible therefore to cover all the alloy types in this brief article which will cover the

carbon, carbon-manganese and low alloy structural steels only.

BS EN ISO 14171 is the speci cation for Welding consumables: Solid wire electrodes, tubular

cored electrodes and electrode/ ux combinations for submerged arc welding of non alloy

and ne grain steels. 

The speci cation covers the classi cation of the wire chemical composition and the

wire/ ux combination. It also speci es the mechanical properties of all weld metal deposits

in the as-welded condition.

This standard is a combined speci cation providing for classi cation utilizing a system

based upon the yield strength and the average impact energy for weld metal of 47 J, or

utilizing a system based upon the tensile strength and the average impact energy for weld

metal of 27 J.

The classi cation is composed of:

A reference to the standard 'ISO 14171'

A symbol 'A' if the classi cation is based on yield strength and average impact energy is
47J or 'B' if the classi cation is based on tensile strength average impact energy is 27J.

And of ve parts, plus a sixth supplementary part:

Part 1. A symbol indicating the process - in the case of submerged arc welding this is 'S'.

Part 2. Two digits indicating either the tensile properties of a multi-run deposit or the tensile

properties of the parent metal to be welded using a two run technique - see Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1A. Symbols for Subscribe

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yield strength and average

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10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

Multi-run Tensile Properties

Symbol Min. Yield N/mm 2 Min. UTS N/mm 2 Min. 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

Table 1B. Symbols for tensile properties - multi-run technique (classi cation based on

tensile strength and average impact energy 27J)

Multi-run Tensile Properties

Symbol Min. Yield N/mm 2 Min. UTS N/mm 2 Min. Elongation %

43X 330 430 - 600 20

49X 390 490 - 670 18

55X 460 550 - 740 17

57X 490 570 - 770 17

Note: 'X' is 'A' or 'P', where 'A' indicates testing in the as-welded condition and 'P' indicates

testing in the post-weld heat-treated condition.

Table 2A. Symbols for tensile properties - two-run technique (classi cation based on

yield strength and average impact energy 47J)

Two-Run Tensile Properties

Min. Yield Parent Metal Min. Tensile Strength of Welded Joint

Symbol 2
N/mm N/mm 2

2T 275
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3T 355news and events from TWI:

latest 470

4T 420
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5T 500 600

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Table 2B. Symbols for tensile properties - two-run technique (classi cation based on

tensile strength and average impact energy 27J)

Symbol Min. Tensile Strength of Welded Joint N/mm 2

43S 430

49S 490

55S 550

57S 570

Note that the two-run technique has two tensile results speci ed; one for the minimum

yield strength of the parent metal, one for the tensile strength of the welded joint.

Part 3. Table 3 gives the temperature at which the average Charpy-V impact value of 47J or

27J may be achieved.

Table 3. Symbol for Charpy-V impact properties

Symbol Temp. for Min Impact Energy 47J or 27J at °C

Z No requirements

A +20

0 0

2 -20

3 -30

4 -40

5 -50

6 -60

7 -70

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Part 4. The symbol for welding ux type shall be in accordance with ISO 14174.
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10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

Flux type symbol

Flux Type Symbol

manganese-silicate MS

calcium-silicate CS

zirconium-silicate ZS

rutile-silicate RS

aluminate-rutile AR

aluminate-basic AB

aluminate-silicate AS

aluminate- uoride basic AF

uoride-basic FB

any other type Z

Part 5. Tables 4 and 5 in ISO 14171 contain a listing of the chemical composition of 22 wires

and are too lengthy to include in full in this article. The wires all contain a maximum carbon

content of 0.15% and range from plain carbon, through C-Mn, C-Mo, Mn-Mo to Ni and Ni-

Mo. All are pre xed 'S' followed by a number from 1 to 4 denoting from 0.5% Mn (1) to 2%

Mn (4). The addition of nickel and/or molybdenum is denoted by the chemical symbol of the

alloy addition being included. Thus an S3 wire contains 1.5% Mn, an S2Ni1Mo 1%.

Part 6. (optional) The standards also provides an optional symbol indicating the di usible

hydrogen content of the weld metal obtained in accordance with ISO 3690 (see Table 6 in

the standard).

Examples of designations:

The designation for an Subscribe

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minimum average impact energy of 47 J at -30°C (3) produced with an aluminate-basic ux
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(AB) and a wire S2 would be:

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ISO 14171-A-S 46 3 AB S2

In addition to BS EN ISO 14171 which speci es the mechanical properties expected from a

particular ux/wire combination, there is an additional speci cation, BS EN ISO 14174, that

speci es the uxes in greater detail, including the application for which a ux may be used.

The speci cation uses a total of seven symbols, four being compulsory and three optional.

The rst symbol identi es the intended process, either 'S' for submerged arc welding or ‘ES’

for electroslag welding. The second identi es the method of manufacture, which may be an

'F' for a fused ux; 'A' for an agglomerated ux and 'M' for a mixture of fused and

agglomerated. The third part gives an indication of the chemical constituents of the ux.

The fourth part gives a symbol for the application(s), Class 1 being intended for the welding

of carbon and low alloy steels, including high strength structural and creep resistant steels.

There is no alloying from this class of ux. Class 2 uxes are for the welding of, and the

surfacing with, stainless and heat resisting steels and nickel alloys. Class 3 is for use with

hard surfacing weld metals, the ux providing such elements as carbon, chromium and

molybdenum to the weld deposit. Class 4 is for all other uxes, eg for copper alloys.

The remaining three symbols are not compulsory and comprise, rstly, a number or

chemical element symbol that de nes what is termed in the speci cation as the

'metallurgical behaviour' of the three classes of ux mentioned above. Two digits then

specify the pick-up or loss of silicon and manganese (in this order) to be expected when

welding carbon or low alloy steels using ux Class 1. Flux Classes 2 and 3 may be

characterised by the use of a chemical symbol to identify the alloying element being added

via the ux, eg Cr, if the ux is chromium compensating.

The current type is indicated by the addition of DC or AC to the symbols and nally an 'H',

followed by a number, gives the weld metal hydrogen level expected from a correctly dried
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or baked ux eg H5 for 5ml/100g.
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A designation for a ux supplied in accordance

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DC H5 for an agglomerated alumina-calcium uoride basic ux intended for the welding of

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10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

carbon or low alloy steels, no pick-up or loss of silicon or manganese, used with DC welding

current and with a hydrogen content of less than 5ml/100g weld metal.

It must be remembered that the properties given by these designations are obtained from

as welded, all weld metal specimens deposited using standard welding parameters of

current, voltage and travel speed.

The properties achieved in a production weld may be entirely di erent due to the e ects of

dilution from the parent metal, higher or lower heat input, di erent wire diameters, preheat

and interpass temperatures and post weld heat treatment. It is essential, therefore, that the

suitability of a ux/wire combination is con rmed by procedure quali cation testing.

Note also that ux/wire combinations supplied to the same speci cation designation by

di erent manufacturers may not necessarily provide similar mechanical properties or weld

cleanliness.

This article was written by Gene Mathers and Marcello Consonni.

For more information please email:

contactus@twi.co.uk

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10/3/2020 Submerged Arc Welding Consumables - Part 2 - TWI

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