Welding wire is one of the primary welding consumables used in most of the welding applications. It plays an important role in welding processes due to its ability to provide electrical current that generates the heat used for welding. Welding wires are made from different steel grades, including low-carbon mild steel, low alloy steel and stainless steel. The chemical composition of the wires will vary depending on the weld metal properties required for the specific application.
Low-carbon mild steel is a common steel grade for welding wires used in general fabrication and welding applications. This steel grade is composed mainly of iron and carbon with small amounts of other elements. The chemical composition of low-carbon mild steel typically includes 0.05-0.3% carbon, 0.3-0.6% manganese and trace amounts of other elements such as phosphorus and sulfur. Low-carbon mild steel welding wires require minimal post-weld heat treatment and provide good joint strength and weldability to general fabrication steels.
Low alloy steel is another common steel grade used for welding wires. Low alloy steel welding wires are composed of carbon, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur. Alloy elements such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and copper are typically added to low alloy steel welding wires to improve mechanical and physical properties. The addition of the alloying elements to the welding wire allows it to offer its manufacturers improved mechanical properties such as increased strength and hardness, higher temperature resistance and greater corrosion-resistance. Low alloy steel welding wires require greater post-weld heat treatment in order to reach their design properties.
Stainless steel is the third most common steel grade used for welding wires. Stainless steel welding wires are composed mainly of iron and chromium, but also contain elements such as nickel, molybdenum and nitrogen. The composition of stainless steel welding wires will vary depending on the design properties required for the application. The chromium content in the stainless steel welding wires is what gives it its corrosion resistance properties and depending on the grade, the chromium content can range from 11-30%. Stainless steel welding wires also require greater post-weld heat treatment in order to reach their design properties.
Welding wires are an essential part of welding applications and they provide the essential electrical current used to generate the heat needed to melt the metals. Welding wires are made from different steel grades, each with its own chemical composition, and the appropriate grade must be selected depending on the application. Low-carbon mild steel, low alloy steel and stainless steel are the three most common steel grades used for welding wires due to their availability and general applicability in welding applications.
