Welding Filler Metal per ASME SFA 5.XX

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FILLER METAL SPECIFICATION

Welding Filler Metal Specifications group filler metals into similar material types and/or welding processes. The specification primarily contains general requirements, classifications, classification designators, chemical composition ranges, destructive mechanical testing, and non-destructive requirements. For any filler metal to be certified, packaged, and sold under the relevant specification it must meet all applicable requirements listed in the specification.

Welding Rods, Electrodes, Filler Metals, and Fluxes are organized into a two tier categorization system; the Specification is the primary level and Classification is the secondary level of the system. The Specification is discussed in this article, and the full Filler Metal Classification article can be found at the following link (button) with a brief summary below.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPECIFICATION & CLASSIFICATION?

A Specification is the broader standard that defines requirements for a group of filler metals.

5.1, 5.5, 5.9, 5.18, 5.20, etc…

A Classification is a specific designation within that specification, identifying a particular filler metal’s properties.

E7018, E8018-B2, ER70S-2, E71T-12, etc…

KEY ASPECTS OF A FILLER METAL SPECIFICATION

Standardization Body: Filler metal specifications are issued by a recognized code organization or standards body, such as the American Welding Society (AWS), or the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Classification System: The specification includes a defined and standardized classification code that uniquely identifies the filler metal. Most classification systems are written such that the position of any alpha-numeric characters provides important information about the filler metals characteristics and uses. The specification includes reference tables that can be used to expand the users understanding of the filler metals characteristics.
Chemical Composition: The specification defines the target values or allowable ranges of the composition of the alloying elements in the filler metal; this information is contained in tables within the specification standard.
Mechanical Properties: Defines properties like tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and impact resistance of the weld deposit.
Testing Requirements: Outlines the tests (e.g., chemical analysis, mechanical testing, impact testing, or radiographic inspection) needed to certify the filler metal meets the specification.
Weld Processes: The specification applies to certain weld processes that use the filler metal in the material product form that the specification defines.
Packaging and Marking: The specification includes requirements for how the filler metal is to be packaged and labeled. Refer to SFA-5.02 for standard sizes and packing of welding ﬁller metals and their physical attributes, such as product appearance and identiﬁcation.

Filler Metal Classifications Blog Article

FILLER METAL CLASSIFICATION

Welding Filler Metal Classifications consist of an alpha-numeric identification system which provides details for the type of electrode, tensile strength, welding position, type of current, impact toughness, chemical composition, as well as hydrogen adsorption in some cases. The classification includes mandatory and optional supplemental designators which are defined in the associated filler metal specification contained within AWS A5.XX or ASME Section II Part C.

The following table demonstrates the specification and a sampling of the classifications contained within it.

ASME Filler Metal Specification and Classification

HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE

1935: AWS - ASTM Joint Committee on Filler Metal was organized to provide standard filler metal specifications for the developing U.S. industry.

1969: The AWS-ASTM Joint Committee is dissolved and the AWS takes over sole responsibility for creating and maintaining the specifications for welding rods, electrodes, filler metal, and flux.

FILLER METAL CODE STANDARDS

The American Welding Society (AWS) publishes the filler metal specifications under their series of A5.XX standards

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) re-publishes the AWS specifications under the series of SFA5.XX standards in ASME Section II Part C.

"S" indicates the specification has been adopted by ASME
"F" indicates the specification covers Filler metals
"A" indicates the specification was adopted from AWS

The following is an excerpt from ASME Section II Part C, which is an example of the adoption of the AWS A5 specification by the ASME code committee.

ASME Section II Part C - Example of Adoption of AWS A5 Specification

‍FILLER METAL SPECIFICATION CHART

The following chart provides a list of the filler metal specifications and their description which are detailed within ASME Section II Part C.

ASME Filler Metal Specifications Listing

FILLER METAL SPECIFICATION BY MATERIAL AND WELD PROCESS

The following table provides the details for the specifications that apply to the combination of the standard material groupings and the given weld process.

ASME Filler Metal Specifications by Material Type and Weld Process

FILLER METAL PROCUREMENT

When specifying filler metals on Welding Procedures, or for procurement, both the specification and classification should be used. For details on guidelines for procurement of welding rods, electrodes, filler metals, and flux reference AWS A5.01 or ASME SFA 5.01.

FILLER METAL LISTED IN QW-404 ON ASME WPS

The following is the filler metal section from the ASME welding procedure (WPS) detailing how the Specification, Classification, F-Number, A-Number, and UNS Number are associated, and used to define the characteristics of the filler metal to be used.