10 May Welding Weathering Steel
Weathering steel is often used to fabricate bridges, roofing and siding, fencing, sculptures, and garden features, such as fire pits and planter boxes. In these applications and others, welding is a part of the fabrication process.
What is Weathering Steel?
Weathering steels are a family of ASTM specifications, as well as several trademarked specifications exhibiting similar corrosion-resistant properties. The ASTM specifications include A588, A242, A606-4, A847, A871-65 and A709-50W. And, of course, the primary trademarked product is Cor-ten®. The most practical benefit of weathering steel is its ability to resist corrosion. Rather than rusting, weathering steel develops patina, which serves as a protective, corrosion-resistant barrier.
Welding Weathering Steel
The good news is that welding weathering steel is relatively simple. Weathering steel welds similarly to common low carbon steels, such as ASTM A36 and ASTM A572.
The two most common steel welding codes, American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 and D1.5, which respectively govern structural and bridge welding, address the use of weathering steels and offer welding methods appropriate to different service environments.
Because weathering steels are available in a variety of yield strength levels, filler metal requirements vary by application. Matching the mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength and toughness) of the filler metal to the design requirements is critical to ensuring the integrity of the structure. Typically, the filler metal should at least meet the minimum mechanical properties of the base material.
Cor-Match™ Makes Welding Weathering Steel Easy
Last year, Central Steel Service introduced Cor-Match™ products to offer customers filler metals that best match the corrosion resistance and the patina color of weathering steels used in unpainted applications, such as bridge construction, transmission pole fabrication, building facades and other structural components used in a variety of steel fabrication projects.
Cor-Match™ 80-CW is a low-alloy steel electrode for single- and multiple-pass welding of self-weathering steels per ASTM A588, A606-4, A242, A709-50W and A847 where color match and corrosion resistance are required. Cor-Match™ 80-CW is a composite, metal-cored electrode for FLAT AND HORIZONTAL welding of weathering steels. 80-CW welds in a pure spray transfer, using 75-80% argon-balance carbon dioxide resulting in a spatter emission that is nearly non-existent. The penetrating characteristics of this tubular electrode are better than most solid electrodes because it eliminates the “cold-lap” or lack of fusion on heavier plate or scaled areas. 80-CW also generates less fume than flux-cored electrodes making it useful where slag removal and cleanup present problems.
Similar to 80-CW, Cor-Match™ Select 810W is a gas-shielded, flux-cored electrode for ALL POSITION welding of weathering steels. This electrode is intended for single and multiple pass welding. WWelder appeal is excellent with a spray transfer, thin slag, which removes easily and cleanly and provides a smooth bead profile.
We also supply Cor-Match™ 8018-C3, which is a stick electrode for welding weathering steels. It is available in 1/8” and 3/32” dia. 8018-C3 is an all-position, high tensile, low hydrogen, iron powder electrode for welding 1 percent nickel steels subjected to low temperature service applications.
Order Cor-Match™ from Central Steel Service
If you are interested in Cor-Match™ products, contact one of our experienced sales associates to place an order. Learn more about the mechanical properties and recommended welding parameters of these Cor-Match™ here.