CSA W48-18

Preface

This is the fourth edition of CSA W48, Filler metals and allied materials for metal arc welding. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2014, 2006, and 2001.

Filler metals standards are intended to provide a generic method of classification and evaluation that allows the end-user to select appropriate welding consumables for a given welding process and product or application. The procedures and tests set out in this Standard, when correctly followed, are designed to produce a consistent product with test results that are as reproducible as possible.

Non-mandatory annexes in this Standard provide general information and an explanation of the classification system (Annexes B and C); descriptions and intended uses of the welding filler metals, and allied materials (Annexes D, E, F, G, and H); information on storage and conditioning of electrodes (Annex I); and information on diffusible hydrogen (Annex J).

Scope

1.1
This Standard specifies requirements for the classification and certification of

a) carbon steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW);

b) chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes for SMAW, including electrodes designated for welding heat-resistant steels containing more than 11% chromium and less than 50% nickel, as specified in Clause 1.2;

c) low alloy steel covered electrodes for SMAW;

d) wire electrodes and deposits for gas-shielded metal arc welding (GMAW) of non-alloy and fine- grain steels, as specified in Clause 1.3;

e) wire electrodes, rods, and deposits for GMAW, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW) of chromium and chromium-nickel steel, as specified in Clause 1.4

f) wire rods and deposits for GTAW and plasma arc welding (PAW) of carbon and low alloy steels, as specified in Clause 1.5;

g) carbon and low alloy steel electrodes for flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) and metal-cored arc welding (MCAW), as specified in Clause 1.6;

h) chromium and chromium-nickel steel electrodes for FCAW and MCAW, as specified in Clause 1.7;

i) fluxes and solid carbon steel electrodes for SAW; and

j) fluxes and composite carbon steel electrodes for SAW.

1.2
Covered electrodes and deposits for SMAW of chromium and chromium-nickel steel are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in AWS A5.4/A5.4M. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.3
Wire electrodes and deposits for GMAW of non-alloy and fine-grain steels are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in CAN/CSA-ISO 14341 for strength levels up to 550 MPa. For strength levels above 620 MPa, AWS A5.28/A5.28M is used for classification requirements and testing. The procedures and conditions for required tests, including radiographic test requirements, are specified in Clause 7. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.4
Wire electrodes and deposits for GMAW, GTAW, and SAW of chromium and chromium-nickel steel are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in AWS A5.9/A5.9M. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.5
Wire rods and deposits specifically for GTAW and PAW of carbon and low alloy steels are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in AWS 5.18/A5.18M and AWS A5.28/A5.28M. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.6
Wire electrodes and deposits for carbon and low alloy steel FCAW and MCAW electrodes are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in AWS A5.36/A5.36M, and the requirements of Annex M of this Standard. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.7
Wire electrodes and deposits for FCAW and MCAW of chromium and chromium-nickel steel are classified and CWB approved using the designations and classification requirements specified in AWS A5.22/A5.22M. For chemical analysis of MCAW, chromium and chromium-nickel steel electrodes the requirements for single diameter testing defined in AWS A5.9/A5.9M is acceptable. Package marking is specified in Clause 8.1.

1.8
The filler metals and allied materials covered by this Standard are classified in accordance with requirements based on one or more of the following criteria:

a) chemical composition;

b) usability characteristics;

c) type of covering (for covered electrodes);

d) diffusible hydrogen in weld metal (hydrogen-controlled classifications);

e) mechanical properties of weld metal (including heat treatment condition); and

f) positions of welding for which electrodes are suitable.

1.9
This Standard does not allow an electrode certified under one classification to be certified under another classification for the same welding process, with the following exceptions:

a) For SAW:

i) A composite electrode may be certified under different classifications in combination with different fluxes.

ii) Fluxes may be classified under any number of classifications, for weld metal in either or both the as-welded and post-weld heat-treated conditions, or using different electrode classifications.

b) For FCAW and MCAW:

i) E49XT-12C may also be listed as E49XT-9C and E49XT-1C.

ii) E49XT-9C may also be listed as E49XT-1C.

iii) E49C-6 may also be listed as E49C-3.

iv) E49XT-12M may also be listed as E49XT-9M and E49XT-1M.

v) E49XT-9M may also be listed as E49XT-1M.

vi) E49XT-XC may also be listed as E49XT-XM, or vice versa, provided the electrode meets the requirements of both classifications.

c) For chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes, materials classified under one classification may be classified under any other classification of AWS A5.4/A5.4M, provided they meet all the requirements for those classifications, except that a material may not be classified under more than one of the following: EXXX-15, EXXX-16, EXXX-17, or EXXX-26 designations.

d) For wire electrodes and deposits for GMAW of non-alloy and fine-grain steel, materials classified under one classification on the "A" side may be classified under another classification on the "B" side, and vice versa, as allowed by CAN/CSA-ISO 14341.

e) Electrodes and wire flux combinations where the only differences are in the hydrogen designators.

f) For wire electrodes, rods, and deposits for GMAW, GTAW, and SAW of chromium and chromium- nickel steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under any other classification of AWS A5.9/A5.9M, provided they meet all the requirements for those classifications.

g) For wire electrodes and deposits for FCAW and MCAW of chromium and chromium-nickel steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under another classification of AWS A5.22/A5.22M on the basis of carbon content and shielding gas provided that they meet all of the requirements for those classifications.

1.10
For purposes of determining compliance with the requirements of this Standard, the actual test values obtained are to be subjected to the rounding off rules of ISO 80000-1, Clause B.3, Rule A. If the measured values are obtained by equipment calibrated in units other than those of this Standard, the measured values are converted to the units of this Standard before rounding. If an arithmetic average value is to be compared to the requirements of this Standard, rounding is to be done only after calculating the arithmetic average. If a test method used in this Standard contains instructions for rounding that conflict with the instructions of this Standard, the rounding requirements of the test method will apply. The rounded results will satisfy the requirements of the appropriate table for the classification under test.

1.11
This Standard does not address safety associated with welding and welding practices.

Note: CAN/CSA-W117.2 addresses safety in welding and should be followed in addition to applicable workplace health and safety legislation. It is the responsibility of the users of this Standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.12
In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.13
The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in Annex L are for information and comparison only.

1.14
The metric version of AWS Standards are used to certify consumables (for example A5.4M), except for wire diameter tolerances (see Clause 5.2.5).