Features• Consumables for welding stainless steel• For all position welding• High productivity• Easy and flexible welding method

Product rangeAvestaPolarit Welding supplies flux cored wire(FCW) for welding all of the most common duplexand austenitic stainless steels as well as dissimilarwelds, e.g. stainless to mild or low alloyed steels.

General characteristicsAvestaPolarit Welding FCW is produced from an18/8 type stainless steel tube filled with a granularcore of flux. The flux contains both slag forming compounds and alloying elements. The compositionof the flux is specially designed to ensure the correctchemical composition and optimum welding properties in the recommended positions.

Many of AvestaPolarit Welding’s FCW are producedwith two different core compositions: standard andPW-type.

• The standard wires are basically designed for welding in horizontal position, but may also be used for in-position welding.

• The PW-type wires are specially developed to produce a fast-freezing slag that makes them particularly suitable for welding in vertical-up andoverhead positions.

FCW is characterised by its high deposition rate(typically twice as high as solid MIG wire), the great flexibility, e.g. in position welding, and the ease ofwelding compared to solid MIG wire.

The FCW is typically used for welding thick gaugematerial (>5 mm) on-site, for example in pressurevessels, chemical carriers, chemical tanks etc. Thehigh deposition rate also makes it well suited foroverlay welding of mild and low alloyed steel components.

Wire type AvestaPolarit WeldingEN 12073 designations

Austenitic 308L, 308H, 347, 316L, 317L

Austenitic-ferritic 2205

Special types 309L, P5

Wire types and designations

AvestaPolarit Welding Flux cored wire FCW

2

Weld metal composition Standard designations

FCW Chemical composition, typical values, % Ferrite* EN 12073 AWS A5.22C Si Mn Cr Ni Mo Other typical

308L 0.03 0.6 1.6 19.0 10.0 9 FN – E308LT0-4

308L-PW 0.03 0.7 1.6 19.0 10.0 6 FN – E308LT1-4

308H 0.06 0.4 1.5 19.0 9.5 5 FN – E308HT0-4

347 0.03 0.4 1.6 19.0 10.5 Nb >8 x C 7 FN – E347T0-4

316L 0.03 0.6 1.4 18.5 12.5 2.8 10 FN T 19 12 3 L R M4 E316LT0-4

316L-PW 0.03 0.7 1.3 18.0 12.5 3.0 7 FN – E316LT1-4

317L 0.02 0.6 1.2 18.5 12.5 3.4 10 FN – E317LT0-4

2205 0.03 0.7 0.9 22.5 9.0 3.2 N 0.13 50 FN T 22 9 3 N L R M3 E2209T0-4

2205-H 0.03 0.7 1.0 23.5 9.5 3.4 N 0.14 50 FN – E2209T0-4

2205-PW 0.03 0.6 0.8 23.0 9.5 3.5 N 0.16 45 FN – E2209T1-4

309L 0.03 0.6 1.4 23.5 12.5 19 FN – E309LT0-4

309L-PW 0.03 0.6 1.3 23.5 12.5 20 FN – E309LT1-4

P5 0.03 0.6 1.4 23.0 13.0 2.5 25 FN – E309LMoT0-4

* Ferrite content measured in all weld metal. FN 0–18 according to Schaeffler-DeLong, FN >18 according to WRC-92.

* Tested at –70°C.

Flux cored wire FCW

Mechanical properties, all weld metal, typical values Approvals

FCW Rp0.2 Rm Elong. Impact strength KV, J HardnessN/mm2 N/mm2 A5 % +20°C –40°C Brinell TÜV DNV Lloyd’s RINA

308L 390 540 40 55 50 200 x x x

308L-PW 390 570 39 60 – 200

308H 390 580 41 90 50* 210

347 410 580 34 70 – 220

316L 390 550 38 55 – 210 x x x

316L-PW 400 560 37 60 55 210 x x x

317L 410 570 30 50 – 210

2205 590 810 29 55 40 240 x x x

2205-H 610 820 26 55 – 240 x x

2205-PW 610 840 28 60 – 240 x x

309L 400 560 34 45 40 210 x x x

309L-PW 390 550 35 55 – 210 x x x

P5 480 670 29 40 – 220 x x x x

3

Flux cored wire FCW

For welding the following steels

Cast and helixCast and helix are used to describe two wire properties, which are very important for the FCWwelding sequence.

Cast is the diameter of a single loop of wire, cut fromthe spool and laid unrestrained on a flat surface. Too high or too low a cast can cause wire-feeding disturbance in the wire feeder as well as in the ontact tip, which will have a negative effect on thearc stability.

Helix is the vertical distance between the ends of asingle loop of wire, cut from the spool and laidunrestrained on a flat surface. Too large a helix willcause rotation of the wire in the feeder and contacttip.

FCW from AvestaPolarit Welding has a cast of800 –1300 mm and a helix of maximum 25 mm whichensures best feedability and welding properties inmost applications and welding machines.

Applications

308LLow carbon 19/9 type wire with excellent generalcorrosion resistance for welding ASTM 304/304L.

308HHigh carbon 19/9 type wire with enhanced creepresistance for welding ASTM 304.

347Nb-stabilised 19/9 type wire for welding Nb and Ti-stabilised steels of the ASTM 321 and 347 types.The wire produces a weldment offering better creepresistance than 308L type wire in environmentswhere service temperatures exceed 400°C.

316LLow carbon 18/13/3 type wire alloyed with Mo for improved corrosion resistance compared to 308L. The wire is used for welding ASTM 316/316L type steels.

317LProduces a 19/14/4L weld metal with high corrosionresistance in acid and chlorine containing environments. For welding ASTM 317L and similartypes of steel.

2205Ferritic-austenitic (duplex) wire with very high proofand tensile strength, as well as excellent resistance topitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. FCW 2205 is produced with three different core compositions. The 2205-H wire is specially designedfor welding in horizontal and vertical-up positionagainst ceramic backing.

309LHigh alloyed 23/13L wire suitable for reliable, crackresistant welds between mild steel and stainlesssteels of the ASTM 304/304L type. Also for surfacing,producing a 304 type deposit from the very firstlayer.

P5High alloyed 23/13/3L wire, suitable for reliable,crack resistant welds between mild steel and stainlesssteels of the ASTM 316/316L type. Also for surfacing,producing a 316 type deposit from the very firstlayer.

EN ASTM AvestaPolarit Recommendedsteel grade wire type

1.4301 304 18-8

1.4307 304L 18-8LFCW 308L, 308H

1.4311 304LN 18-8LN

1.4541 321 18-10Ti

1.4541 321 18-10Ti FCW 347

1.4436 316 17-12-2.5

1.4432 316L 17-12-2.5LFCW 316L

1.4429 316LN 17-12-2.5LN

1.4571 316Ti 17-11-2Ti

1.4438 317L 18-14-3LFCW 317L

1.4439 S31726 17-14-4LN

1.4462 S31803 2205 FCW 2205

Dissimilar welds between non-molybdenum-alloyed stainless steels and mild steel or low

FCW 309Lalloyed steels. Surfacing of mild or lowalloyed steels.

Dissimilar welds between molybdenum-alloyed stainless steels and mild steel. FCW P5Surfacing of mild or low alloyed steels.

4

Packaging dataLayer wound on wire basket spools. 0.90 mm diam. supplied on plastic spools.

OD 300 mmID 51 mmWidth 100 mm

Spool weights: 0.90 mm 5 kg1.20 mm 15 kg1.60 mm 17 kg

All FCW is supplied vacuum-packed, with a bag ofsilica gel, to minimise the moisture absorption inopened packages.

Other packaging or dimensions are also available.

Additional informationFurther information on AvestaPolarit Welding products can be found in printed matter, such as• Data sheets• Welding Handbook• “How to weld...” (series of brochures covering

AvestaPolarit special grades)and on our web site www.avestapolarit.com/welding

Standard dimensions

StoringStainless steel FCW is sensitive to moisture pick-up.Although AvestaPolarit Welding consumables aredelivered in packages developed to be moisture resistance we still recommend precautions to betaken whilst storing and handling.

FCW should be kept in its unbroken original packages while stored. Storing in opened packagesmay seriously reduce the durability of the product.

The temperature in the store-room should be kept asconstant as possible and should not be below 15°C ±5°C.

FCW should never be left unprotected for more than24 hours if the relative humidity exceeds 55%.

FCW that has absorbed moisture cannot be redried.

Quality assurance and markingAvestaPolarit Welding FCW is supplied with a 3.1.Bcertificate, showing the actual chemical compositionof each lot and typical mechanical properties. Eachspool and package is marked as follows:

• AvestaPolarit Welding brand name• Lot number• Weight of spool• Standard designation (where applicable)• Approval (where applicable)• Warning label

AvestaPolarit Welding has beenISO 9002 approved since 1991.Certificate No. FM 20031

FCW Diameter, mm0.90 1.20 1.60

308L, 316L x x x

309L, P5 x x

All others x

Flux cored wire FCW

5

FCW welding is performed in the same way as solidMIG wire welding. The primary difference is that theslag and shielding gas combined, protect the arc, themelt pool and the heat affected plate. The slag makesFCW well suited to position welding. Another noticeable difference is the wider parameter box, i.e.greater range of current and voltage with good welding result, which makes FCW welding an easiermethod than solid MIG wire welding.

FCW welding is always performed using direct current positive polarity, DC+.

To obtain an even and smooth weld, free from defectssuch as slag and porosity, it is important to maintainthe proper relation between current and voltage. Toohigh a voltage will create a long arc, resulting inheavy spatter, a wide weld and possibly a lack offusion. On the other hand, too low a voltage, i.e.short arc, could result in a convex weld bead which islikely to cause porosity and slag inclusions. It is advisable to use a voltage at the high end of therecommended interval for each level of current. A wire stick-out of 15–25 mm will produce the bestresult in most applications.

Welding can in most cases be performed using 1.20 mm diam. wire in all positions. However, forthin gauges (typically 2–4 mm) and in some positionsa 0.90 mm diam. wire can be advantageous. 1.60 mmdiam. is mostly used when welding thick gauges(>10 mm) in a horizontal position or when overlaywelding, for example, mild steel components.

Single side welding against ceramic backing is common, especially for on-site welding, e.g. panelsin chemical carriers.

In the figure below, the parameter range for FCW308L and 316L is shown. Welding is performed in thehorizontal position with Ar + 25% CO2 as shieldinggas.

Values shown are typical. Contact your local distributor or AvestaPolarit Welding AB for moreprecise information.

One common application for flux cored wire is for weldingcargo tanks in chemical tankers.

Welding recommendations

Diameter Horizontal (PA) Vertical up (PF) Overhead (PE)mm Current, A Voltage, V Current, A Voltage, V Current, A Voltage, V

0.90 80 – 160 22 – 28 80 – 130 22 – 26 80 – 150 22 – 27

1.20 150 – 280 24 – 32 140 – 170 23 – 28 150 – 200 24 – 29

1.60 200 – 320 26 – 34 – – – –

Flux cored wire FCW

Welding speed is typically 20–60 cm/min for horizontal and 10–20 cm/min for vertical-up welding.

Vo

ltag

e, V

Current, A

38

36

34

32

30

28

26

24

22

20

1850 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 330 350

0.90 mm diam.

1.20 mm diam.

1.60 mm diam.

Parameter range, horisontal welding

Flux cored wire FCW

AvestaPolarit Welding ABP.O. Box 501, SE-774 27 Avesta, SwedenTel.: +46 (0)226 815 00Fax: +46 (0)226 815 75

www.avestapolarit.com/welding

Information given in this brochure may be subject to alteration without notice.Care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this publication are accurate but AvestaPolarit AB and its subsidiary companies do

not accept responsibility for errors or for information which is found to be misleading. Suggestions for or descriptions of the end use orapplication of products or methods of working are for information only and the company and its subsidiaries accept no liability in respect

thereof. Before using products supplied or manufactured by the company the customer should satisfy himself of their suitability.If further assistance is required, the company, which has extensive research facilities, will often be able to help.

Info

rmat

ion

272

201G

B;

sup

erse

des

in

f. 9

790.

Tek

nis

k in

form

atio

n /

Sti

lbild

arn

a /

Gra

ph

ium

Väs

tra

Aro

s 20

01

Shielding gases• Ar + 15–25% CO2

• 100% CO2

The most frequently used shielding gas for FCW isargon with an addition of 15–25% CO2. This type ofshielding gas produces the most attractive resultregarding arc stability, slag control and a minimumof spatter.

Welding can also be performed using a 100% CO2

shielding gas, however, with a somewhat moreunstable arc, increased spatter and reduced control ofthe melt pool. In this case a 2–3 V increase of the voltage is necessary to obtain the right arc length.

The shielding gas flow rate should be 20–25 l/min.Porosity may be the result, if the gas flow is too lowor too high. Welding in vertical-up or overhead position may benefit from a somewhat lower gasflow.

The high amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) is normallynot suitable for stainless steel welding, due to enhanced carbon pick-up in the weld. This, however,is not a problem when FCW welding, since each droplet in the arc is covered with slag, protecting itfrom the surrounding atmosphere and shielding gas.

Models for ferrite predictionThe ferrite content of a weldment can be described inseveral different ways, for example given in per centaccording to ASTM E562. This method, however, istime consuming and expensive. The ferrite value istherefore normally given measured by a magnetic

method such as Magne-Gage or ferritescope or calculated in terms of the weld metal composition.Nowadays, this latter approach is often preferred,using either the Schaeffler-DeLong or WRC-92 diagrams. The ferrite content is given as ferrite number, FN. The relationship between percentageand FN according to Schaeffler-DeLong correlate wellup to 18 FN. Above this level, values should be givenaccording to WRC-92.

10

15

20

25

30

Nickel equivalent =% Ni + 0.5 x % Mn + 30 x % C +30 x % N

Chromium equivalent =% Cr + % Mo + 1.5 x % Si +0.5 x % Nb

5 10 15 20 25 30

5

M + A

F+M

40% F

A=AUSTENITE

M=MARTENSITE

M + F

M + A + F

F=FERRITE

A + F

100% F

0 FN

2 FN

6 FN

12 FN

P5

2205308L

347

316L