SMAW · Carbon steel
E7018-1
The same low-hydrogen chemistry as the standard structural rod but qualified to a colder impact test, so it is specified where the finished joint must stay tough in cold service.
What the designation means
Point at any character to see what it claims. The classification is a sentence written in fields, not a product name.
- EElectrode for shielded metal arc welding.
- 7070,000 psi minimum tensile strength of the deposit.
- 1All welding positions.
- 8Low-hydrogen potassium covering with iron powder, run on direct current electrode positive or alternating current.
- -1A supplementary requirement for improved notch toughness, with the impact test carried out at a lower temperature than the standard version of the same rod.
At a glance
- Process
- SMAW
- Family
- Carbon steel
- Positions
- All positions
- Polarity
- DCEP, or AC
- Shielding
- Self-shielded by the covering
- Minimum tensile
- 70ksi
Typical uses
- Structural and equipment welds exposed to cold ambient service
- Seismic and dynamically loaded connections that specify notch toughness
- Heavy sections where both hydrogen control and impact properties are required
How it runs
- Runs and sounds like a standard low-hydrogen rod of the same size
- Deposit is tested for impact toughness at a lower temperature
- Dense self-lifting slag and a flat, finely rippled bead
- Also carries a higher minimum elongation requirement than the base classification
Storage and handling
Identical low-hydrogen discipline applies: sealed containers until use, heated rod oven for working rods, and strict control of atmospheric exposure time.
Compare with
SMAWE7018The workhorse structural low-hydrogen rod, giving a smooth arc, a moisture-controlled deposit, and the crack resistance that heavy sections and restrained joints demand.SMAWE7016A low-hydrogen rod with a tighter, less fluid puddle than its iron powder relative, which is why many pipe welders prefer it for vertical and overhead fills.SMAWE8018-C3A nickel-alloyed low-hydrogen rod used where the completed joint has to absorb impact in the cold, such as outdoor structures and low temperature equipment.