Doc. No.072014-S073 April.

2014
Rev.1 October.2014

Mechanical Properties of US-29AF-490E

Doc. No.072014-S073

Mechanical Properties of US-29AF-490E

Welding Process Dept.
Technical Center
Welding Business
KOBE STEEL, LTD.

1. Introduction
The US-29AF-490E for submerged arc welding applications, is a wire-flux combination for mild steel
and 490MPa class high tensile strength steel.
The US-29 is a solid electrode, which conforms to the AWS A5.17 EM12K for submerged arc welding
applications and the AF-490E is an aluminate-basic type flux, mainly designed for two-run and multi-run
processes.

2. Mechanical Properties of All Weld Metal

2.1 Wire, Flux and Base Metal (in detail)
WireUS-294.0mm dia.
FluxAF-490E1265mesh

Table 1. Chemical Composition of Base Metal (mass)

C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
SM490A* 0.16 0.39 1.38 0.011 0.002 0.41 0.25
Ceq(WES) = C+Si/24+Mn/6+Ni/40+Cr/5+Mo/4+V/14
Pcm = C+Si/30+Mn/20+Cu/20+Ni/60+Cr/20+Mo/15+V/10+5*B
*This is a JIS G 3106 steel grade

2.2 Welding Condition, etc.

Table 2. Welding Condition

Current Voltage Welding Speed Preheat Temp. Interpass Temp.
Polarity
(A) (V) (cm
min) (
) (
)
DC-EP 550 30 42 Room Temp. 135165

V Groove
Angle of Electrode0
30

Base MetalSM490A
Thickness25mm

Wire Extension30mm
Gap.=13mm

Figure 1. Electrode Position and Groove Configuration of Weld Joint

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2.3 Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen

Tensile Test Specimen

Charpy Impact Test Specimen

9.5mm
Center of Each
Test Specimen

Figure 2. Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen

2.4 Test Results of All Weld Metal

2.4.1 Chemical Analysis Results of All Weld Metal

Table 3. Chemical Analysis Results of All Weld Metal (mass.)

C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
0.05 0.39 1.40 0.018 0.006 0.31 0.14

2.4.2 Tensile Test Results and Charpy Impact Test Results of All Weld Metal

Table 4. Tensile Test Results of All Weld Metal*

0.2%OS TS El. R.A
(MPa) (MPa) (
) (
)
As-Weld 437 534 31 70
PWHT
380 494 35 72
(6201hr)
*Size of test specimen is based on AWS B4.0

Table5. Charpy Impact Test Results of All Weld Metal*

As-Weld Condition PWHT
100 100
Brittle Fracture (%)

Brittle Fracture (%)

75 75

50 50

25 25

0 0
220 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 220 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10
200 Test Temp.() 200 Test. Temp. ()
180 180
Absorbed Energy (J)

Absorbed Energy (J)

160 160
140 140
120 120
100 100
80 80
60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10
Test Temp. () Test. Temp. ()

*Size of test specimen is based on AWS B4.0

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2.5 AWS Classification

AWS Classification of US-29AF-490E is as follow
AWS A5.17 F7A2-EM12K
AWS A5.17 F6P4-EM12K

3. Mechanical Properties of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process

3.1 Wire and Flux (in detail)
WireUS-294.8mm dia.
FluxAF-490E1265mesh

Table 6. Chemical Composition of Base Metal (mass)

Thickness
C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
(mm)
EH36* 0.14 0.39 1.48 0.016 0.004 0.40 0.23
20
D* 0.12 0.22 0.99 0.013 0.004 0.30 0.18
*These are steel grades with shipping approval

3.2 Welding Condition, etc.

Table 7. Welding Condition of Butt Joint in a Multi-Run Process

Preheat and Interpass
Pass Current Voltage Welding Speed
Polarity Side Temp.
No. (A) (V) (cm
min)
(
)

1 525 30 42
Face
25 550 30 42
DC-EP 100150
1 525 30 42
Back
24 550 30 42

Angle of Electrode0
60
Face

20mm Base MetalEH36

D
4mm
Back
Back Gouging
Wire Extension30mm

Figure 3 Electrode Position and Groove Configuration of Butt Joint

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3.3 Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen

Flat Tensile Test Specimen and Bend Test Specimen

Charpy Impact Test Specimen

10mm Center of Each

Test Specimen

Figure4. Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen

3.4 Test Results of Weld Metal

3.4.1 Chemical Analysis Results of Weld Metal

Table 8. Chemical Analysis Results of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process (mass)

Base Metal C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
EH36 0.07 0.42 1.49 0.010 0.003 0.34 0.17

D 0.07 0.36 1.35 0.009 0.003 0.31 0.15

3.4.2 Flat Tensile Test ResultsCharpy Impact Test Results and Bend Test Results of Weld Metal

Table 9. Flat Tensile Test Results of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process*

TS Breaking
Base Metal
(MPa) Point

559
EH36
566
Base Metal
454
D
455
*Size of test specimen is based on shipping approval

Table 10. Charpy Impact Test Results of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process*
Absorbed Energy (J)
Base Metal -20

Avg.
EH36 76 84 96 85
D 118 129 136 128
*Size of test specimen is based on shipping approval

Table 11. Bend Test Results of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process*

Base Metal Face Bend Root Bend
EH36
No Defect No Defect
D
*Size of test specimen is based on shipping approvalDiameterthree times the thickness of the specimen

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3.4.3 Macrograph of Weld Metal

Base Metal
EH36 D

Photo 1. Macrograph of Weld Metal in a Multi-Run Process

4. Mechanical Properties of Weld Metal in a Two-Run Process

4.1 Wire and Flux (in detail)
WireUS-294.8mm dia.
FluxAF-490E1265mesh

Table 12. Chemical Composition of Base Metal (mass)

Thickness
C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
(mm)
EH36 0.14 0.39 1.48 0.016 0.004 0.40 0.23
12,16
D 0.12 0.22 0.99 0.013 0.004 0.30 0.18

4.2 Welding Condition, etc.

Table 13. Welding Condition of Butt Joint in a Two-Run Process

Preheat and
Thickness Current Voltage Welding Speed
Polarity Side Interpass Temp.
(mm) (A) (V) (cm
min)
(
)
Face(1st) 620 31
12 55
Back(2nd) 680 31
DC-EP Room Temp.
Face(1st) 770 31
16 60
Back(2nd) 830 31

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Angle of Electrode0

Thickness Base MetalEH36

12mm and 16mm D
Wire Extension30mm

Figure 5. Electrode Position and Groove Configuration of Butt Joint in a Two-Run Process

4.3 Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen

Flat Tensile Test Specimen and Bend Test Specimen

Charpy Impact Test Specimen
Back

6mm
Center of Each
Test Specimen

Face
Figure 6. Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen at 12mm Thickness

Flat Tensile Test Specimen and Bend Test Specimen

Charpy Impact Test Specimen
Back

7mm Center of Charpy

Test Specimen

Face
Figure 7. Sampling Location of Each Test Specimen at 16mm Thickness

4.4 Test Results of Weld Metal

4.4.1 Chemical Analysis Results of Weld Metal

Table 14. Chemical Analysis Results of Weld Metal in a Two-Run Process (mass)
Thickness
Base Metal C Si Mn P S Ceq(WES) Pcm
(mm)
12 0.11 0.42 1.45 0.013 0.003 0.37 0.21
EH36
16 0.11 0.40 1.43 0.013 0.003 0.37 0.21

12 0.10 0.31 1.21 0.013 0.003 0.31 0.17

D
16 0.10 0.29 1.12 0.013 0.005 0.30 0.17

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4.4.2 Flat Tensile Test ResultsCharpy Impact Test Results and Bend Test Results of Weld Metal

Table 15. Flat Tensile Test Results in a Two-Run Process*

Thickness TS Breaking
Base Metal
(mm) (MPa) Point

550
12
556
EH36
550
16
551
Base Metal
477
12
474
D
461
16
462
*Size of test specimen is based on shipping approval

Table16. Charpy Impact Test Results of Weld Metal in a Two-Run process *

Absorbed Energy (J)
Base Metal Thickness -20

Avg.
12 77 85 67 76
EH36
16 85 60 76 74

12 90 154 157 134

D
16 102 106 78 95
* Size of test specimen is based on shipping approval

Table17. Bend Test Results of Weld Metal at Two-Run Process *

Thickness
Base Metal Face Bend Root Bend
(mm)
12
EH36 No Defect No Defect
16
12
D No Defect No Defect
16
* Size of test specimen is based on shipping approvalDiameterthree times the thickness of the specimen

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4.4.3 Macrograph of Weld Metal

Thickness Base Metal

(mm) EH36 D

12

16

Photo 2. Macrograph of Weld Metal in a Two-Run Process

5. Summary

The AWS Classification of US-29AF-490E is AWS A5.17 F7A2-EM12K and AWS A5.17 F6P4-EM12K.
The Mechanical properties of weld metal agreed with the specification of the base metal grade.
Absorbed energy was greater than 34J at -20 in this test.

6. Shipping Approval of US-29AF-490E

The wire-flux combination of US-29AF-490E has 5 kinds of shipping approvals (see below)

Table18. Shipping Approvals of US-29AF-490E

ABS BV GL LR DNV

Grade 3TM3YTM TMYTM

Note
Maximum applicable plate thickness was 16mm in a Two-Run Process

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Appendix
We carried out the additional search about hardness of Vickers of all weld metal. Test results are as follows.

Table 19. Hardness of Vickers of All Weld Metal*

Location of Test Results
measurement As-Weld Condition PWHT
0 0
Line1 Line1

Distance from surface (mm)

Distance from surface (mm)

-5 -5
Line1
-10 -10
Center of All Weld Metal
-15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30

-35 -35
120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280
Hardness of Vickers Hardness of Vickers

0 0
Line2 Line2
-5 -5
Distance from surface (mm)

Distance from surface (mm)

Line2
Center of All Weld Metal -10 -10

5mm -15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30

-35 -35
120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280
Hardness of Vickers Hardness of Vickers
260 260
Line3 Line3
240 240
Line3
Hardness of Vickers
Hardness of Vickers

220 220
Distance from the surface of Base metal HAZ WM HAZ HAZ WM HAZ
200 200

9.5mm 180 180

160 160

140 140

120 120
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
Distance from the Center of All Weld Metal (mm) Distance from the Center of All Weld Metal (mm)

*Load is 98N and Loading Time is 15 second.

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