Welding
Electrodes and wires: designations
In short
Decode E 42 3 B 32 H5, E7018, G 42 3 M21 3Si1, ER70S-6.
Covered electrode ISO 2560-A
E423B32H5
ECovered electrode (process 111)42Yield ≥ 420 MPa, Rm 500 to 640 MPa347 J impact at −30 °CBBasic covering: low hydrogen, keep dry3Recovery 105 to 125 %, AC and DC2All positions except vertical downH5Diffusible hydrogen ≤ 5 ml/100 g
ISO 2560-A: strength and toughness
| Code | Min yield (MPa) | Rm |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 355 | 440–570 |
| 38 | 380 | 470–600 |
| 42 | 420 | 500–640 |
| 46 | 460 | 530–680 |
| 50 | 500 | 560–720 |
47 J impact: Z not required, A at +20 °C, 0 at 0 °C, 2 at −20 °C, 3 at −30 °C, 4 at −40 °C, 5 at −50 °C, 6 at −60 °C.
ISO 2560-A: covering, recovery, positions
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A · C · R · RR | Acid · cellulosic · rutile · thick rutile |
| RC · RA · RB · B | Rutile-cellulosic · rutile-acid · rutile-basic · basic |
| 1 · 2 | Recovery ≤ 105 %; 1: AC and DC, 2: DC only |
| 3 · 4 | Recovery 105–125 %; 3: AC and DC, 4: DC only |
| 5 · 6 | Recovery 125–160 %; 5: AC and DC, 6: DC only |
| 7 · 8 | Recovery > 160 %; 7: AC and DC, 8: DC only |
| Pos. 1 | All positions |
| Pos. 2 | All except vertical down |
| Pos. 3 | Flat and horizontal fillet |
| Pos. 4 | Flat only |
| Pos. 5 | As 3, plus vertical down |
| H5 · H10 · H15 | Diffusible hydrogen ≤ 5 / 10 / 15 ml/100 g |
Covered electrode AWS A5.1
E7018
EElectrode70Tensile strength 70 ksi (≈ 490 MPa)1Positions (1: all)8Covering and current (8: basic iron powder, AC / DC+)
AWS A5.1: digits
| Digit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 60 · 70 · 80 | Rm ≈ 430 · 490 · 550 MPa (60 · 70 · 80 ksi) |
| Pos. 1 | All positions |
| Pos. 2 | Flat and horizontal fillet |
| Pos. 4 | Flat, horizontal, overhead, vertical down |
| 0 | Cellulosic sodium · DC+ |
| 1 | Cellulosic potassium · AC / DC+ |
| 2 | Rutile sodium · AC / DC− |
| 3 | Rutile potassium · AC / DC± |
| 4 | Rutile iron powder · AC / DC± |
| 5 | Basic sodium · DC+ |
| 6 | Basic potassium · AC / DC+ |
| 7 | Iron oxide iron powder · AC / DC± |
| 8 | Basic iron powder · AC / DC+ |
Suffixes: -1 improved toughness, H4 / H8 / H16 max hydrogen in ml/100 g, R moisture-resistant covering. ISO 2560 system B: E4918 matches E7018.
MAG solid wire ISO 14341-A
G423M213Si1
GGas-shielded solid wire42Yield ≥ 420 MPa347 J at −30 °CM21Test gas (ISO 14175)3Si1Wire composition
Common solid wires
2SiLow silicon3Si1Silicon-manganese, the commonest4Si1More silicon: more fluid pool2TiWith titanium, for rusty plate3Ni1With nickel, low-temperature toughness2MoWith molybdenum, creep resistance
AWS A5.18: ER70S-x
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ER | Electrode or rod (wire or TIG filler) |
| 70 | Rm 70 ksi ≈ 490 MPa |
| S | Solid wire |
| -2 | Titanium and zirconium, rusty plate |
| -3 | Low silicon, little spatter |
| -4 | More manganese and silicon |
| -6 | Most silicon and manganese, all-round |
| -G | Composition agreed with the maker |
ER70S-6 is often paired with G3Si1 in shops; only the wire certificate counts for acceptance.
Sources
Tools · Welding
Heat inputHeat input in kJ/mm (EN 1011-1) from current, voltage and travel speed.Carbon equivalent and preheatCE (IIW), CET and indicative preheat temperature (EN 1011-2, method B) with validity range check.Shielding gasRecommended gas (ISO 14175 class) and flow in L/min by process, material and wire diameter.Back purgeVolume to purge between dams, pre-purge time and gas use to shield the root side.Welding settingsCurrent, voltage, wire or electrode, gas and polarity by process, material, thickness and position; dimensioned joint preparation and passes.Weld shrinkageIndicative transverse and longitudinal shrinkage of a butt joint, with pre-setting advice.Filler metal weightJoint section (V, X, fillet), deposited weight and filler weight to order by process.Weld defect diagnosisTick what you see at the arc, in the pool and on the bead: ranked likely causes and remedies (TWI).ISO 5817 criteriaPermitted limit of an imperfection by quality level B, C or D, and verdict on the measurement (ISO 5817:2023).Weld pass layoutGroove area, number of layers and passes, numbered welding sequence sketch.Dissimilar metal weldingFiller metal to join two different metals (steel, stainless, duplex, nickel, aluminium) and precautions.