Welding A350-LF3 with 309 consumables

[iam42]

I need to weld A350-LF3 with a restriction of no FCAW. I am having a problem in finding consumables - EN-Ni3.

Does anyone see any reason why I could not qualify a PQR using 309 consumables? I already have a PQR qualified for welding LF3 to P8.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[metengr]

I have never seen this filler metal designation. What is the welding process you intend to use, is this for joining LF3 to itself or to stainless steel? There are a host of low alloy steel filler metals that contain up to 3% Ni for joining this material to itself.

 

[iam42]

Metengr,

The procedure is for welding LF3 to itself, however I am finding problems procuring EN-Ni3 consumables. If you have any alternate suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

I am hoping to use GTAW - Root, SMAW or GMAW fill and SAW fill and cap.

Thanks

 

[0707]

E309 and ER309 are used in SMAW and TIG welding processes respectively.

If I understood your question you have a FCAW qualified welding process using EN-Ni3.

So you cannot use it for SMAW or TIG using E309 and ER309


Luis Marques

 

[metengr]

If you cannot use FCAW, use SMAW and stick with low alloy, Ni filler metals.

 

[iam42]

Thanks Metengr,Looks like I have to search harder for the Ni consumables.

On a side note, do you know of any mechanical or metalurgical reason to stay away from the 309 scenario?

 

[metengr]

do you know of any mechanical or metalurgical reason to stay away from the 309 scenario?

No, not really. But why complicate your situation and avoid using typical low alloy filler metals for this? Keep in mind that inspection of the completed weld joint with 309 will require Liquid Penetrant versus magnetic particle, this has to be evaluated.

 

[stanweld]

iam42,
The highly dissimilar expansion rates of the 309 vs the 350-LF3 can place undue shear loads at the fusion line of the weld. Cyclic service life will be adversely affected depending on actual service conditions. A better choice would be to use a Nickel base alloy weld filler metal if matching filler metals are not available.

 

[GRoberts]

3 1/2% Ni solid wires (ER80S-Ni3) for GMAW, GTAW, and SAW can be hard to find. You can get a custom consumable manufactuerer to make a metal cored wire for you that can be used for any of the 3 processes. The matching SMAW elecrode is E7015-C2L or E8018-C2. The mathing cored wire is ER80C-Ni3. The matching FCAW consumable (which you can't use) is E80T5-Ni3, and is only made by a few companies.

 

[iam42]

Thanks GRoberts,


I am amazed at how difficult it is to find these consumables. I am originally from the UK and I would have no problems over there. Not sure why it is so difficult here.

 

[stanweld]

iam42,
The problem exists because so few vessels/piping are made from 3 1/2% Ni alloy steels. Manufacturers will not manufacture or stock large quantities when demand is negligible. We have recently made some weld repairs to 3 1/2% Ni alloy steel vessels, qualified welding procedures with GTAW and SMAW processes and had no major difficulty in obtaining them. For hard to find welding fillers, I first check with Bohler Welding and Midalloy.

 

[iam42]

Stanweld,

I tried Midalloy.......no luck! I will try bohler though.


Thanks

 

[stanweld]

We actually obtained these fillers this past July from Oxford, Champion and Universal Wire.