AWS A5.5/A5.5M:2014

An American National Standard

Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding

AWS A5.5/A5.5M:2014

An American National Standard

Approved by the American National Standards Institute

April 16, 2014

Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding

10th Edition

Supersedes AWS A5.5/A5.5M:2006

Prepared by the American Welding Society (AWS) A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials

Under the Direction of the AWS Technical Activities Committee

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This specification prescribes the requirements for classification of low-alloy steel covered electrodes used for shielded metal arc welding. The requirements include chemical composition and mechanical properties of weld metal, weld metal soundness, usability tests of electrodes, and moisture tests of the low-hydrogen electrode covering. Requirements for standard sizes and lengths, marking, manufacturing, and packaging are also included.

Optional supplemental requirements include tests for absorbed moisture in the electrode covering and for diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal.

This specification makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). Since these are not equivalent, each system must be used independently of the other.

Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmen- tal bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. When this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS stan- dard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While the AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evalu- ate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether spe- cial, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. It is assumed that the use of this standard and its provisions are entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent personnel.

This standard may be superseded by the issuance of new editions. Users should ensure that they have the latest edition.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

Finally, the AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

On occasion, text, tables, or figures are printed incorrectly, constituting errata. Such errata, when discovered, are posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org).

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society, Attention: Managing Director, Technical Services Division, 8669 NW 36th St, # 130, Miami, FL 33126 (see Annex B). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials. It must be reviewed every five years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the com- ments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are pro- vided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36th St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

Personnel

AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials

H. D. Wehr, Chair Arcos Industries, LLC

1. J. DeLoach, Jr., 1st Vice Chair Naval Surface Warfare Center

   1. D. Fuchs, 2nd Vice Chair VoestalpineBohler Welding USA, Incorporated

      R. K. Gupta, Secretary American Welding Society

      T. Anderson ITW Welding North America

      J. C. Bundy Hobart Brothers Company

      J. L. Caron Haynes International, Incorporated

      D. D. Crockett Consultant

      R. V. Decker Weldstar

      D. M. Fedor The Lincoln Electric Company

      J. G. Feldstein Foster Wheeler North America

      S. E. Ferree Consultant

      D. A. Fink The Lincoln Electric Company

      G. L. Franke Naval Surface Warfare Center

      1. M. Henson The Harris Products Group

      2. D. Kiser Special Metals

      P. J. Konkol Concurrent Technologies Corporation

      D. J. Kotecki Damian Kotecki Welding Consultants

      1. G. Kvidahl Ingalls Shipbuilding

         1. Y. Lau Canadian Welding Bureau

            1. S. Lee Chevron

               T. Melfi The Lincoln Electric Company

      2. T. Merlo RevWires LLC

      1. M. Merlo-Joseph Apeks Supercritical

         B. Mosier Polymet Corporation

         1. K. Mukherjee Siemens Energy, Incorporated

            T. C. Myers Oceaneering Intervention Engineering

         2. A. Pletcher Select-Arc

      K. C. Pruden Hydril Company

      K. Roossinck Ingalls Shipbuilding

      P. K. Salvesen Det Norske Veritas (DNV)

      K. Sampath Chart Industries

      1. A. Schweighardt Air Liquide Industrial US LP

         W. S. Severance ESAB Welding and Cutting Products

         M. F. Sinfield Naval Surface Warfare Center

         R. C. Sutherlin ATI Wah Chang

         R. A. Swain Euroweld, Limited

         J. Zhang Indalco Alloys Inc of Lincoln Electric

         
         

         Advisors to the A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials

         R. L. Bateman Soldaduras West Arco Limitada

         J. E. Beckham Chrysler LLC

         J. M. Blackburn Naval Sea Systems Command

         M. T. Caruso Special Metals Welding Products Company

         R. A. Daemen Consultant

         B. S. Dauble Carpenter Technology Corporation

         T. A. Davenport PRL Industries

         D. A. DelSignore Consultant

         J. DeVito Consultant

         H. W. Ebert* Consultant

         C. E. Fuerstenau Lucas-Milhaupt Incorporated

         J. P. Hunt Special Metals

         S. Imaoka Kobe Steel, Limited

         S. J. Knostman Hobart Brothers

         W. A. Marttila WAMcom Consulting LLC

         R. Menon Victor Technologies

         C. L. Null Consultant

         M. P. Parekh Consultant

         J. W. Price DMI Industries

         M. A. Quintana The Lincoln Electric Company

         M. J. Sullivan NASSCO-Natl Steel & Shipbldg

         M. D. Tumuluru US Steel

         H. J. White PCC Energy Group

         
         

         AWS A5A Subcommittee on Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes

      2. L. Franke, Chair Naval Surface Warfare Center

      1. A. Swain, Vice Chair Euroweld, Limited

         1. K. Gupta, Secretary American Welding Society

            R. V. Decker Weldstar Company

            1. J. DeLoach, Jr. Naval Surface Warfare Center

            2. K. Gupta Westinghouse Electric Corporation

               M. James The Lincoln Electric Company

         2. J. Knostman Hobart Brothers

            A. Y. Lau Canadian Welding Bureau

         3. C. Myers Oceaneering Intervention Engineering

P. K. Salvesen Det Norske Veritas (DNV)

K. Sampath Chart Industries

M. S. Sierdzinski ESAB Welding & Cutting Products

Advisors to the AWS A5A Subcommittee on Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes

H. W. Ebert* Consultant

S. Imaoka Kobe Steel, Limited

D. J. Kotecki Damian Kotecki Welding Consultants

J. D. Null NIA Consulting LLC

M. P. Parekh Consultant

M. A. Quintana The Lincoln Electric Company

M. D. Tumuluru US Steel

* Deceased

Foreword

This foreword is not part of AWS A5.5 /A5.5M: 2014, Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding, but is included for informational purposes only.

This document is the second revision of the A5.5/A5.5M specification which makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). The measurements are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other, without combining values in any way. In selecting rational metric units, AWS A1.1, Metric Practice Guide for the Welding Industry, and International Standard ISO 544, Welding consumables — Technical delivery conditions for welding filler materials — Type of product, dimensions, tolerances and markings are used where suitable. Tables and figures make use of both U.S. Customary and SI Units, which, with the application of the specified tolerances, provides for interchangeability of products in both U.S. Customary and SI Units.

This edition includes new filler metal classifications E8015-B2 (reinstated), E9018-B6, E90XX-B23, E90XX-B24, E90XX-B92; E9018-NM2; revised “Rounding Procedure;” references to AWS A5.02/A5.02M:2007 for covered elec- trode standard sizes, packaging, and physical attributes; the change of E90XX-B9 classifications to E90XX-B91; and changes in procedures for requests for filler metal classifications. Such significant changes are shown in italic font.

Document Development of A5.5/A5.5M

ASTM A316–48T Tentative Specifications for Low-Alloy Steel Arc-Welding Electrodes

AWS A5.5–48T

ASTM A316–54T Tentative Specifications for High Tensile and Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding

AWS A5.5–54T Electrodes

AWS A5.5–58T Tentative Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding Electrodes

ASTM A316–58T

AWS A5.5–64T Tentative Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding Electrodes

ASTM A316–64T

AWS A5.5–69 Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding Electrodes

ANSI W3.5–1973

AWS A5.5–69 1977 Addenda to Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding Electrodes

Add. 1–77

ANSI/AWS A5.5–81 Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Covered Arc-Welding Electrodes ANSI/AWS A5.5–96 Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding AWS A5.5/A5.5M:2006 Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials, American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36th St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel iv

Foreword vi

List of Tables viii

List of Figures viii

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Classification 3

4. Acceptance 6

5. Certification 6

6. Rounding Procedure 6

7. Summary of Tests 13

8. Retest 17

9. Weld Test Assemblies 17

10 Chemical Analysis 20

1. Radiographic Test 23

2. Tension Test 23

3. Impact Test 32

4. Fillet Weld Test 32

5. Moisture Test 32

6. Absorbed Moisture Test 34

7. Diffusible Hydrogen Test 35

8. Method of Manufacture 36

9. Standard Sizes and Lengths 36

10. Core Wire and Covering 36

11. Exposed Core 36

12. Electrode Identification 37

13. Packaging 37

14. Marking of Packages 37

Annex A (Informative) — Guide to AWS Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal

Arc Welding 39

Annex B (Informative) — Guidelines for Preparation of Technical Inquiries for AWS Technical Committees 55

AWS Filler Metal Specifications by Material and Welding Process 57

AWS Filler Metal Specifications and Related Documents 59

List of Tables

Table Page No.

1. Electrode Classification 5

2. Chemical Composition Requirements for Undiluted Weld Metal 7

3. Tension Test Requirements 12

4. Charpy V-Notch Impact Requirements 14

5. Required Tests 15

6. Base Metal for Weld Test Assemblies 24

7. Preheat, Interpass, and Postweld Heat Treatment Temperatures 25

8. Requirements for Preparation of Fillet Weld Test Assemblies 28

9. Radiographic Soundness Requirements 29

10. Dimensional Requirements for Fillet Weld Usability Test Specimens 33

11. Moisture Content Limits for Low-Hydrogen Electrode Coverings 34

12. Diffusible Hydrogen Requirements for Weld Metal and Optional Supplemental Designators 36

13. Standard Sizes and Lengths 37

A1 Comparison of Classifications 42

A2 Typical Storage and Drying Conditions for Covered Arc Welding Electrodes 46

A3 Typical Amperage Ranges for Covered Arc Welding Electrodes 48

A4 Discontinued Electrode Classifications 53

List of Figures

Figure Page No.

1. Order of Electrode Mandatory and Optional Supplemental Designators 4

2. Pad for Chemical Analysis of Undiluted Weld Metal 18

3. Groove Weld Test Assembly for Mechanical Properties and Soundness of Weld Metal

   Produced by Using All Electrode Classifications Except E(X)XX18M(1) 19

4. Fillet Weld Test Assembly 21

5. Groove Weld Test Assembly for Mechanical Properties and Soundness of Weld Metal

   Produced by Using E(X)XX18M(1) 22

6. Welding Positions for Fillet Weld Test Assemblies 29

7A Radiographic Acceptance Standards for Rounded Indications (Grade 1) 30

7B Radiographic Acceptance Standards for Rounded Indications (Grade 2) 31

1. Dimensions of Fillet Welds 33

2. Alternate Methods for Facilitating Fracture of the Fillet Weld 34