MMAW / SMAW

CARBON STEEL ELECTRODES

Mandatory

Designates an electrode

Designates the minimum tensile strength of the weld metal in ksi

Designates the welding position, type of flux covering & type of

welding current

Designates to meet military requirements of higher toughness &

lower moisture content

E XX YY – M
E XX YY – 1 HZ R

Optional

Designates that the electrode meets requirements of absorbed

moisture test

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements of diffusible

H2 test, in the as-received or conditioned condition, Z ml of H2 per
100 g of weld

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements for improved

toughness
MMAW / SMAW

LOW ALLOY STEEL ELECTRODES

Mandatory

Designates an electrode

Designates the minimum tensile strength of the weld metal in ksi

Designates the welding position, type of flux covering & type of

welding current

Designates the chemical composition of the weld metal obtained

E XX YY – P

E XX YY – P - HZ R

Optional

Designates that the electrode meets requirements of absorbed

moisture test

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements of diffusible

H2 test, in the as-received or conditioned condition, Z ml of H2 per
100 g of weld

Classification of weld metal chemistry

A series - C-Mo steels

B series - Cr-Mo steels
C series - Ni steels
D series - Mn-Mo steels
NM series - Ni-Mo steels
G series - General
M series - Military specification
MMAW / SMAW

STAINLESS STEEL ELECTRODES

Classification Welding current Welding position

E XXX (X) - 15 Dcep All
E XXX (X) - 25 Dcep H&F
E XXX (X) – 16 Dcep or ac All
E XXX (X) – 17 Dcep or ac All
E XXX (X) - 26 Dcep or ac H&F

Designation -15:

More of basic type covering

Designation -16:

Titania based covering

Designation -17:

Modification of -16 type covering, considerable silica replaces some of the titania of the -
16 type. Electrodes with -17 covering produce more of a spray arc and a finner rippled
weld bead surface than those with the -16 coverings. -17 covering also produces slower
freezing slag.

Designation -25:

The slag system is very similar in composition & operating characteristics to that of the -
15 type. These electrodes differ from the -15 type in that the core may be of substantially
different composition, such as mild steel, that may require much higher welding current.

Designation -26:

The slag system is very similar in composition & operating characteristics to that of the -
16 type. These electrodes differ from the -16 type in that the core may be of substantially
different composition, such as mild steel, that may require much higher welding current.
Chemical composition

200 series: These are nitrogen strengthened austenitic stainless steels

300 series: Austenitic stainless steels

400 series: Ferritic stainless steels, heat treatable

500 series: Martensitic stainless steels, air hardening type

L – low carbon type. Less than 0.04% of C in the weld

H – High carbon type. Minimum 0.04% of carbon in the weld

Cb – Minimum of 0.70% Cb in the weld to avoid sensitization

 BARE ELECTRODES & RODS

CARBON STEEL FOR TIG – MIG / MAG WELDING

Designates use as either an electrode or rod (ER) or

use only as electrode (E)

Indicates the minimum tensile strength of the weld

in ksi

Indicates whether the filler metal is solid (S) or

composite (C)

Indicates the chemical composition of the solid

electrode or the chemical composition of the weld
metal produced by a composite electrode.

E R XX S – X N HZ
E XX C– X Y N HZ

Optional diffusible hydrogen designator

Indicates the type of shielding gas used for

classification of composite electrodes. C for CO2 &
M for mixed gas

Examples:

ER 70 S-6

E 70 C-6 M
 BARE ELECTRODES & RODS

LOW ALLOY STEEL FOR TIG – MIG / MAG WELDING

Designates use as either an electrode or rod (ER) or

use only as electrode (E)

Indicates the minimum tensile strength of the weld

in ksi

Indicates whether the filler metal is solid (S) or

composite (C)

Indicates the chemical composition of the solid

electrode or the chemical composition of the weld
metal produced by a composite electrode.

E R XX S – X X X HZ
E XX C – X X X HZ

Optional diffusible hydrogen designator

Examples: ER 80 S-B2L, E 80 C- B3L

Classification of weld metal chemistry

A series - C-Mo steels

B series - Cr-Mo steels
N series - Ni steels
D series - Mn-Mo steels
G series - General
M series - Military specification
 BARE ELECTRODES & RODS

STAINLESS STEEL FOR TIG – MIG / MAG - SAW WELDING

Indicates the chemical composition of the solid

electrode or the chemical composition of the weld
metal produced by a composite electrode.

E R XXX (Y) – SOLID ELECTRODES

E Q XXX (Y) – STRIP ELECTRODES

E C XXX (Y) – COMPOSITE ELECTRODES

Chemical composition

200 series: These are nitrogen strengthened austenitic stainless steels

300 series: Austenitic stainless steels

400 series: Ferritic stainless steels, heat treatable

500 series: Martensitic stainless steels, air hardening type

L – low carbon type. Less than 0.04% of C in the weld

H – High carbon type. Minimum 0.04% of carbon in the weld

Cb – Minimum of 0.70% Cb in the weld to avoid sensitization

FLUX CORED ARC WELDING

CARBON STEEL ELECTRODES

Mandatory

Designates an electrode

Designates the minimum tensile strength of the weld metal

in 10 X ksi

Designates the welding position

0 for flat & horizondal positions only
1 for all positions

Indicates that the electrode is a flux cored electrode

This refers to the usability of the electrode, like current

condition, toughness requirement of the weld etc. This is
some number from 1 – 14. Instead of numbers, if G is
present then it means that current condition & weld
toughness conditions are not specified. Instead of numbers,
if GS is present then it means that current condition & weld
toughness conditions are not specified and the electrode is
is suitable for welding single pass only & not suitable for
multi pass welding.

M indicates that the external shielding is by mixed gas.

Absence of M indicates that the external shielding is CO2.

E X Y T – X MJ HZ

Optional

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements of

Diffusible H2 test, in the as-received or conditioned
condition, Z ml of H2 per 100 g of weld

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements for

Improved toughness
FLUX CORED ARC WELDING

LOW ALLOY STEEL ELECTRODES

Mandatory

Designates an electrode

Designates the minimum tensile strength of the weld metal

in 10 X ksi

Designates the welding position

0 for flat & horizondal positions only
1 for all positions

Indicates that the electrode is a flux cored electrode

This refers to the usability of the electrode, like current

condition, toughness requirement of the weld etc. This will
be some number. If G is present then it means that current
condition & weld toughness conditions are not specified.

Designates the chemical composition of the weld metal

M indicates that the external shielding is by mixed gas.

Absence of M indicates that the external shielding is CO2.

E X Y T X – X M J HZ

Optional

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements of

Diffusible H2 test, in the as-received or conditioned
condition, Z ml of H2 per 100 g of weld

Designates that the electrode meets the requirements for

Improved toughness
FLUX CORED ARC WELDING

STAINLESS STEEL ELECTRODES

E XXX T X – X