What does the '-6' indicate in the GMAW electrode label ER70S-6?

What does the '-6' indicate in the GMAW electrode label ER70S-6?

• A. Chemical composition (number = carbon steel, letter and number = low-alloy steel)
• B. Tensile strength
• C. Diameter size
• D. Coating type

Answer: (A)

The dash-number in ER70S-6 is about the filler metal’s chemical makeup within the ER70S family. The 70 means the wire is specified for about 70 ksi tensile strength, and the S shows it’s solid wire. The -6 designates a particular recipe of alloying elements and deoxidizers used in this wire. Wires with this kind of dash code differ in deoxidizer content (like silicon and manganese), which affects how forgiving the weld is to surface contamination and how it behaves in different welding positions. So the -6 indicates composition variations, not the strength value, diameter, or coating type.

The dash-number in ER70S-6 is about the filler metal’s chemical makeup within the ER70S family. The 70 means the wire is specified for about 70 ksi tensile strength, and the S shows it’s solid wire. The -6 designates a particular recipe of alloying elements and deoxidizers used in this wire. Wires with this kind of dash code differ in deoxidizer content (like silicon and manganese), which affects how forgiving the weld is to surface contamination and how it behaves in different welding positions. So the -6 indicates composition variations, not the strength value, diameter, or coating type.