GMAW · Aluminum
ER5356
The higher strength aluminium filler, chosen for marine and structural work on 5000 series base metal and wherever the joint must match colour after anodising.
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.
- ERClassified as both an electrode and a hand fed filler rod.
- 5The first digit places the alloy in the aluminium-magnesium family, where magnesium is the principal alloying addition.
- 356The remaining digits identify the specific registered alloy, a roughly 5 percent magnesium composition.
At a glance
- Process
- GMAW
- Family
- Aluminum
- Positions
- All positions with pulsed transfer; spray transfer is best in the flat and horizontal
- Polarity
- DCEP for wire feed welding; alternating current with a balanced wave when torch welded
- Shielding
- Welding grade argon, or an argon-helium blend when extra heat is needed on thick sections
- Minimum tensile
- 38ksi
Typical uses
- Marine hull and superstructure work on 5000 series aluminium
- Structural aluminium requiring higher joint strength
- Assemblies that will be anodised and need a colour matched weld
How it runs
- Higher deposit strength and ductility than the silicon bearing filler
- Stiffer wire that feeds more reliably through long guns and push-pull systems
- More crack sensitive on 6000 series base metal than the silicon filler
- Sensitive to magnesium oxide, so joint cleaning before welding is critical
Storage and handling
Store sealed and dry, keep spools bagged between shifts, and handle rods with clean gloves to avoid oxide and moisture pickup.
Compare with
GMAWER4043The forgiving general purpose aluminium filler, whose silicon content lowers the melting range and makes the puddle fluid enough to resist cracking on extrusions and castings.GTAWERTi-2An unalloyed titanium rod for chemical and aerospace work, demanding far more shielding discipline than steel because hot titanium absorbs air greedily.GTAWERNiCr-3A nickel-chromium rod used for nickel alloy base metals, dissimilar joints, and overlay, where its niobium addition resists cracking through heavy dilution.