Welding wire, brands, marking, diameters and consumption

Steel welding wire – is a thin, long consumable material wound on a spool. It is a filler material and is fed during welding, either manually, automatically, or semiautomatically.

It is divided into three main categories:

• Activated. One of the best, no voids. Evenly spaced inclusions provide protective properties.
• Powder. The outer layer is metal. Inside is a powder mixture.
• Solid. Made from metal with a solid cross-section. Used in gas welding.

Application of welding wire depends on the welding method, temperature and uniformity of melting, thickness, grade, quality of the metal, requirements for the weld, operation of the product, for example, under the influence of external factors, etc.

Application of welding wire (solid (in a gas environment) or powder (without gas)) is used to join metals and chromium-containing steels (stainless steel). The main advantages are damage resistance, durability, corrosion resistance, low spatter, and excellent weld quality. The material is selected based on the properties of the metal.

Copper-plated steel welding wire Used for thin sheets, high-alloy, and carbon steels. Key advantages: fast re-ignition, reduced tip consumption, and arc stability.

Aluminum wire is used for the same metals and alloys. It is often used where materials may come into contact with water. Key advantages: resistance to corrosion, deformation resistance, and color matching.

Steel welding wire for submerged arc and argon arc welding. Suitable for the following steels:

• Low carbon;
• Low alloy;
• Medium alloyed;
• Highly alloyed.

There are more than 50 types of steel wire.

Welding wire grades

Types of welding wire They are classified by chemical composition. For example, if the brand name ends with the letter A, it means it contains a small amount of fluorine and sulfur. If it ends with the letter AA, the percentage of additives is minimal.

Types of welding wire + for semiautomatic machines, including those determined on the basis of GOST, in 3 classes of 77 grades (with the percentage of alloying elements):

• Alloy – 30 types (2.5-10%);
• Low-alloy – 6 types (2.5%);
• High-alloy – 41 grade (10%).

The most popular brands are PP2DS, Sv06Kh19N9T, OK Autrod 19.40 (foreign), Sv08GSMT.

Welding wire marking

Regulated by steel welding wire GOSTOM 2246-70. The marking is expressed in alphanumeric form. Each marking contains information about the chemical composition and purpose. The first two letters characterize the application:

• PP – powder for welding without gas;
• NP – for surfacing;
• SV – welding operations.

The remaining letters are metal impurities.

Steel welding wire GOST (letter designations) for semiautomatic.
DESIGNATION	METAL
A	Nitrogen
B	Niobium
IN	Tungsten
G	Manganese
D	Copper
M	Molybdenum
WITH	Silicon
T	Titanium
F	Vanadium
C	Zirconium
Yu	Aluminum

 

When interpreting the data, use the numbers—the element's presence, expressed as a percentage. Without a number, the metal content is less than 1%.

Welding wire consumption

Select welding wireThe footage must also be calculated correctly, because when welding with an automatic or semiautomatic machine, the work to create the seam is carried out without interruption. To avoid errors, there is a special formula for calculating the material: N = G * K.

• N – the determined value, the amount of material consumption per meter of seam;
• G – mass of deposited metal per 1 m;
• K is a parameter that influences the transition from the mass of the weld product to the consumption of the metal used.

To find out the data G, in the question how select welding wire, you need to use the formula G=P*y*L, where:

• F – area (in millimeters) of the cross-section of the seam;
• U is the specific gravity of the wire.

The value L is multiplied by 1, calculated per meter. This means that the letter L changes depending on the footage being measured.

Welding wire diameter

Welding wire sizes Different. Consumables are selected depending on the welding current and the thickness of the metal being welded. 2 mm consumables are suitable for products with a thickness of 3-5 mm.

Welding wire sizes In the West, standards differ from domestic ones. However, most welding equipment is imported. To meet these needs, wire diameters in the following sizes are used in our country:

• For semiautomatic machines from 0.6 to 6 mm;
• For welding with filler rods and electrodes from 1.6 to 5 mm.

To choose the right material, you will have to take into account the magnitude of the welding current and the thickness of the metal being welded.

 

Table for selecting wire diameter depending on metal, current strength, and thickness of parts to be welded.