1Abdulsalam Adamu Girbo 2Utu Ochuko Goodluck
1Mechanical and Ground Engineering Department,
Air-Force Institute of Technology,
Kaduna State. Nigeria
2Welding Engineering Department, School of Engineering,
Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku
Delta State.
ABSTRACT
There are many different types of welding electrodes used in arc welding process. The choice of these welding electrodes depends on many parameters; one of them is the welding process (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW….). Electrode is either consumable or non-consumable, flux coated or bare rod/wire.
The intent of this paper is to help the personnel involved in governing welding activities in Manufacturing and Oil/Gas industry with the identification and selection of the right electrodes to use in the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process and also selection of a correct welding electrode improves the live span and integrity of a welded joint. Arc welding electrodes are identified using the American Welding Society (A.W.S) Standard, ISO 2560 Standard or Indian specification and numbering system and are made in sizes from 1/16”(1.6mm) to 5/16”(7.9mm). An example would be a welding rod identified as 1/8“(3.2mm) E6011 electrode. The electrode is 1/8“(3.2mm) in diameter The “E” stands for arc welding electrode. Next will be either a 4 or 5 digit number stamped on the electrode. The first two numbers of a 4 digit number and the first 3 digits of a 5 digit number indicate the minimum tensile strength (in thousands of pounds per square inch) of the weld that the rod will produce, stress relieved.