Filler Metal Chemistry

Written By Cassandra Painter

The Chemical Composition of the Alloy Suffix for Common Filler Metals

Applicable Filler Metal Specifications

  • AWS A5.5 / SFA5.5 - Low Alloy Steel Electrodes for SMAW

  • AWS A5.23 / SFA5.23 - Low Alloy Steel Electrodes and Fluxes for SAW

  • AWS A5.28 / SFA5.28 - Low Alloy Steel Electrodes and Rods for Gas Shielded Arc Welding

  • AWS A5.29 / SFA5.29 - Low Alloy Steel Electrodes for FCAW

SFA 5.5 Chemical Composition of Weld Metal

Carbon - Molybdenum

A1 - Suffix

  • 0.50% molybdenum has been added to these filler metals.

  • Loosely matches ASME P-Number 3

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1150 °F ±25 °F

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMoSimilar to P-No.
A10.120.60 - 1.000.40 - 0.80------------0.40 - 0.65P3

Chromium - Molybdenum (Cr-Mo)

B1 - Suffix

  • 0.50% chromium and 0.50% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • Closely matches ASME P-Number 3

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 325 °F to 375 °F

    • PWHT: 1275 °F ±25 °F

B2 - Suffix

  • 1.25% chromium and 0.50% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • Closely matches ASME P-Number 4

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 325 °F to 375 °F

    • PWHT: 1275 °F ±25 °F

B3 - Suffix

  • 2.25% chromium and 1.00% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • Closely matches ASME P-Number 5A

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 325 °F to 375 °F

    • PWHT: 1275 °F ±25 °F

B6 - Suffix

  • 5.00% chromium and 0.50% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • Closely matches ASME P-Number 5B

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 350 °F to 450 °F

    • PWHT: 1375 °F ±25 °F

B8 - Suffix

  • 9.00% chromium and 1.00% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • Closely matches ASME P-Number 5B

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 400 °F to 500 °F

    • PWHT: 1375 °F ±25 °F

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMoSimilar to P-No.
B10.05 - 0.120.900.60 - 0.80-----0.40 - 0.650.40 - 0.65P3
B20.05 - 0.120.900.60 - 0.80-----1.00 - 1.500.40 - 0.65P4
B2L0.050.900.60 - 1.00-----1.00 - 1.500.40 - 0.65P4
B30.05 - 0.120.900.60 - 1.00-----2.00 - 2.500.90 - 1.20P5A
B3L0.050.900.80 - 1.00-----2.00 - 2.500.90 - 1.20P5A
B4L0.050.901.00-----1.75 - 2.250.40 - 0.65-
B50.07 - 0.150.40 - 0.700.30 - 0.60-----0.40 - 0.601.00 - 1.25-
B60.05 - 0.101.00.90-----4.00 - 6.000.45 - 0.65P5B
B6L0.051.00.90-----4.00 - 6.000.45 - 0.65P5B
B70.05 - 0.101.00.90-----6.00 - 8.000.45 - 0.65-
B7L0.051.00.90-----6.00 - 8.000.45 - 0.65-
B80.05 - 0.101.00.90-----8.00 - 10.50.85 - 1.20P5B
B8L0.051.00.90-----8.00 - 10.50.85 - 1.20P5B
B90.08 - 0.131.200.30-----8.00 - 10.50.85 - 1.20P5B

Nickel - Steel

C1 - Suffix

  • 2.50% nickel and 1.25% manganese have been added to these filler metals.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1125 °F ±25 °F

C2 - Suffix

  • 3.50% nickel and 1.25% manganese have been added to these filler metals.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1125 °F ±25 °F

C3 - Suffix

  • 1.00% nickel, 1.00% manganese, 0.15% chromium, and 0.35% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 250 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

Ni1 - Suffix

  • 1.25% nickel, 1.00% manganese, 0.15% chromium, and 0.35% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • These filler metals deposit weld metal similar to E8018-C3 covered electrodes, and are used for welding low-alloy high-strength steels requiring good toughness at temperatures as low as −50°F.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 250 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

Ni2 - Suffix

  • 2.50% nickel and 1.25% manganese have been added to these filler metals.

  • These filler metals deposit weld metal similar to E8018-C1 electrodes. Typically, they are used for welding 2.5% nickel steels and other materials requiring good toughness at temperatures as low as −80°F.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1125 °F ±25 °F

Ni3 - Suffix

  • 3.50% nickel and 1.25% manganese have been added to these filler metals.

  • These filler metals deposit weld metal similar to E8018-C2 electrodes. Typically they are used for welding 3.5 nickel steels for low-temperature service.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1125 °F ±25 °F

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMo
C10.121.250.602.00 - 2.75------------
C1L0.051.250.502.00 - 2.75------------
C20.121.250.60 - 0.803.00 - 3.75------------
C2L0.051.250.503.00 - 3.75------------
C30.120.40 - 1.250.800.80 - 1.100.150.35
C3L0.080.40 - 1.400.500.80 - 1.100.150.35
C40.101.250.60 - 0.801.10 - 2.00------------
C5L0.050.40 - 1.000.506.00 - 7.25------------
Ni10.121.250.40 - 0.800.80 - 1.100.150.35
Ni20.121.250.40 - 0.802.00 - 2.75------------
Ni30.121.250.40 - 0.803.00 - 3.75------------

Nickel - Molybdenum (Ni-Mo)

NM1 - Suffix

  • 1.00% nickel and 0.50% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 250 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMo
NM10.100.80 - 1.250.600.80 - 1.100.100.40 - 0.65

Manganese - Molybdenum (Mn-Mo)

D1 - Suffix

  • 1.50% manganese, 0.90% nickel and 0.35% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals

  • Mn-Mo steel filler metals which are air hardenable and usually requires preheat and PWHT

  • Designed to match the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of high strength, low alloy pressure vessel steels categorized as P-No 3.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1150 °F ±25 °F

D2 - Suffix

  • 1.85% manganese, 0.90% nickel and 0.35% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals

  • Mn-Mo steel filler metals which are air hardenable and usually requires preheat and PWHT

  • Designed to match the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of high strength, low alloy pressure vessel steels categorized as P-No 3.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1150 °F ±25 °F

D3 - Suffix

  • 1.40% manganese, 0.90% nickel and 0.50% molybdenum have been added to these filler metals

  • Mn-Mo steel filler metals which are air hardenable and usually requires preheat and PWHT

  • Designed to match the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of high strength, low alloy pressure vessel steels categorized as P-No 3.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 225 °F

    • PWHT: 1150 °F ±25 °F

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMoSimilar to P-No.
D10.121.00 - 1.750.60 - 0.800.90------0.25 - 0.45P3
D20.121.65 - 2.000.60 - 0.800.90------0.25 - 0.45P3
D30.121.00 - 1.800.60 - 0.800.90------0.40 - 0.65P3

Pipeline Electrodes

P1 - Suffix

  • These electrodes have been designed primarily for welding cross country pipelines on typical high-strength pipe butt joints in the vertical welding position with downward progression. With their cellulosic coverings, they produce deep penetrating, spray-type welding arcs and thin, easily removable slag. This combination is best suited for achieving full penetration and radiographic quality for the downhill welding of butt joints when the axis of the pipe is in the horizontal position.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 325 °F to 375 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

P2 - Suffix

  • These electrodes have been designed primarily for the welding of the hot, fill, and cap passes in high strength pipe butt joints. Typical application for electrodes of this chemical composition suffix are the welding of API 5L pipe steels up to and including Grade X80, along with many other high strength, medium and high carbon, and low-alloy steels. Electrodes of these classifications are normally not recommended for the root pass (stringer bead) on open gaps.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 325 °F to 375 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMo
P10.201.200.601.000.300.50
P20.120.90 - 1.700.801.000.200.50

Weathering Steel

W1 - Suffix

  • This filler metal has been designed to produce weld metal that matches the corrosion resistance and the coloring of the ASTM weathering-type structural steels.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 250 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

W2 - Suffix

  • This filler metal has been designed to produce weld metal that matches the corrosion resistance and the coloring of the ASTM weathering-type structural steels. These special properties are achieved by the addition of about 0.50% copper to the weld metal. To meet strength, ductility, and notch toughness in the weld metal, some chromium and nickel additions are also made. These electrodes are used to weld the typical weathering steels, such as ASTM A 242 and A 588.

  • See specific code application requirements, but general guidance is as follows:

    • Preheat: 200 °F to 250 °F

    • PWHT: Not Specified

SuffixCMnSiNiCrMo
W10.120.40 - 0.700.40 - 0.700.20 - 0.400.15 - 0.30------
W20.120.50 - 1.300.35 - 0.800.40 - 0.800.45 - 0.70------
Filler Metal Chemical Composition
Cassandra Painter
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Stainless Filler Metal Selection Guide