Metric Electrodes

By Niekie3 (***)

Date 11-30-2002 09:17

In South Africa we have been metricated for as long as I can remember, yet we still use the E70XX designations when talking about American based welding. (ASME, AWS etc...)

Obviously the South African and European specifications have metricated values in their designations. So far however, these specifications have been much less user friendly than the American one's and are not used as widely as the AWS designations.

What I have been observing regarding the American specifications in the last couple of years is that they are comming out with "dual" imperial and SI units. Possibly then if you look at the electrode specs., it will show that an electrode that has a deposited filler metal strength of 70ksi or 483MPa is designated as E70XX. Judging by the speed of change to SI units in America, I doublt that they would change the whole designating to E480XX. (But then stranger things have happened.)

I know that this is not an exact answer to your question, but I recon that you might find the "outside of America" view informative for what it is worth.

Regards
Niekie Jooste

By dee

Date 11-30-2002 21:33

Niekie,
I interpret then the metric equivalent needs merely to be converted from American units and perhaps cross-referenced? (hopefully the British reading this will forgive my presumption)

You guys are using the same alloys, just measureing them differently?

Sounds like a nice table or poster might be available from Hobart or other electrode manufacturer.

Regards,
d

By Niekie3 (***)

Date 12-01-2002 19:25

Hi D

Just as with base material specifications, there are no real direct equivalents in filler metals. There are only specifications that are very close. As such, we often have electrodes that have been certified to two or possibly three different specifications. The AWS, SABS, and BS or EN specifications.

In other words, there are European and other specifications that are very close to the AWS specifications, that are metric. They are however still unique specifications and one can not merely say that this code is the same as that code. They are merely simmilar enough that a single filler can meet both specifications.

Hope this answers your question.

Regards
Niekie Jooste

By chall

Date 12-03-2002 12:12

Some of the Marine Classification Societies have a different scheme for grouping electrode. Lloyds uses a system that groups (carbon steel) electrode by the following properties: Charpy temperature filler is rated for, tensile value filler is rated for. One example is: 4Y40 - the 4Y indicates the filler is rated for -40C, the 40 indicates the filler is acceptable on base metals up to grade 40 (yield strength 40 N/mm2 divided by 10).

There is a comprehensive chart on the approved welding comsumables chart Lloyds Register has posted on their web site.

It may be that the other classification societies also use the same scheme. There is a group known as the IACS (International Association of Classification Societies), that was formed to gather the construction/maintenance activieties (for Marine Projects) under one set of rules recognized by all classification societies. This eliminates the need for a company that is fully compliant with one society's rules (maybe ABS) from having to become fully compliant with another society's rules (say Lloyds Register) in order to perform work that is governed by the second classification society.

When you get into this arena, be prepared for some confusing times...Charles Hall