Advanced Welding Processes: Technologies and Process Control

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Advanced welding processes
A full copy of the AWS A5.20 standard can be obtained through the Welding
Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA) in Australia or direct from AWS in
the USA.
Australian classification of consumables
The classification of ferritic steel consumables according to the Australian
code AS/NZS 2203.1 is based on the designation of three groups of elements
separated by hyphens as follows:
Group 1
A prefix ‘E’ which denotes electrode, ‘T’ which indicates the electrode is
tubular, followed by a letter code which indicates the positional capabilities
of the wire:
P = All positions
D = Flat or downhand and horizontal vertical fillets
S = Single run only.
Group 2
G (for gas shielding) followed by a character which indicates the shielding
gas used:
C = Carbon dioxide
M = Mixed gas (e.g. Argon/carbon dioxide)
N = No external shielding.
This is followed by a letter which indicates the type of current to be used:
p = DCEP
n = DCEN
a =AC.
Group 3
A W (for weld metal properties) followed by two-digit number which indicate
approximately 0.1 of the specified minimum tensile strength in megapascals
followed by a digit which indicates the impact energy grade. These are
followed by A (as welded) or P (postweld heat treated) to indicate heat
treatment conditions. The following group indicates the weld metal chemistry
using an alphanumeric code which refers to a table of compositions.
Finally the suffix H with a numeric subscript denotes the hydrogen content
of the deposited metal in ml/100g.
Diagrammatically the AS 2203 designation may be represented as:
The chemistry of the weld metal are specified in Table 2.2 of the standard.