Welding Filler Metal Specifications
Welding Filler Metal per ASME SFA 5.XX
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.
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.
Filler Metal QW-404 on ASME WPS