SMAW · Low-alloy steel
E8018-B2
A chrome-moly low-hydrogen rod for the lower alloy grades of high temperature piping, where chromium and molybdenum together resist creep and oxidation.
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.
- 8080,000 psi minimum tensile strength of the deposited weld metal.
- 1All welding positions.
- 8Low-hydrogen potassium covering with iron powder, run on direct current electrode positive or alternating current.
- -B2A chromium-molybdenum deposit in the nominal 1.25 percent chromium, 0.5 percent molybdenum class.
At a glance
- Process
- SMAW
- Family
- Low-alloy steel
- Positions
- All positions
- Polarity
- DCEP, or AC
- Shielding
- Self-shielded by the covering
- Minimum tensile
- 80ksi
Typical uses
- Welds on 1.25 chromium 0.5 molybdenum piping and fittings
- Boiler tubing and superheater components in power plants
- Refinery piping operating at elevated temperature
How it runs
- Smooth low-hydrogen arc with a slightly sluggish, controllable puddle
- Tight slag that must be fully cleaned between passes on multipass work
- Normally welded with specified preheat, interpass, and post weld heat treatment
- Alloy deposit is harder as welded than a plain carbon steel rod
Storage and handling
Keep in hermetically sealed packaging until use and hold working rods in a heated rod oven; alloy low-hydrogen rods are especially sensitive to moisture.
Compare with
SMAWE9018-B3The next step up in the chrome-moly family, carrying roughly twice the chromium of the lower class for higher temperature and higher pressure piping.SMAWE7018-A1The entry point into the creep-resisting low-alloy family, adding molybdenum to a familiar low-hydrogen rod so the joint keeps its strength in hot service.GTAWER80S-B2The chrome-moly torch rod used for root passes on lower alloy high temperature piping, matched to the same alloy class as the companion covered electrode.