Choosing the right welding material ensures the finished product’s safety and integrity. One of the most popular welding materials today is ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire and bare filler metal rod, commonly used in the marine industry because of its excellent strength, flexibility, and corrosion resistance. However, not every welder knows about this popular welding material. This blog post will delve deeper into ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire and bare filler metal rod to understand its composition, mechanical and physical properties, uses, corrosion resistance, and heat treatment.
What is ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod?
ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire is an advanced, high-strength metal alloy designed for welding applications. It has a unique combination of corrosion resistance to provide reliable and durable welds even in the most demanding environments. The bare filler metal rod is made from ERCUAL-A3 and provides superior melt characteristics, excellent ductility and impact properties, and arc stability. Additionally, the rod increases deposition rates and reduces weld defects while providing higher productivity with less rework. This makes it ideal for industrial uses such as automotive products, frames, architectural elements, or general fabrication components.
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Composition
ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire and bare filler metal rod are made from a nickel-aluminium-bronze alloy that contains around 9% aluminium and 3% nickel. The high aluminium content in the alloy gives the welding material excellent corrosion resistance properties, making it ideal for use in the marine industry. The alloy also contains iron, manganese, silicon, and tin.
| % (filler metal) | |
| Copper* | Balance |
| Aluminum | 10.0 – 11.50 |
| Iron | 2.0 – 4.50 |
| Silicon | 0.10 max. |
| Others | 0.50 max. |
| * including silver |
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Mechanical Properties
ERCUAL-A3 filler metal have excellent mechanical properties, making them suitable for welding high-stress applications. The welding material has a minimum tensile strength of 550 MPa, a minimum yield strength of 300 MPa, and an elongation of 25%. It also has good fatigue properties and is resistant to stress corrosion cracking.
| (Nominal all-weld metal values) | |
| Tensile Strength ksi | 90 (621 MPa) |
| Yield Strength ksi | 40 (276 MPa) |
| Elongation % in 2″ (51 mm) | 20 |
| Reduction of Area % BHN (3000kg.) | 22 |
| 1/4″ (6.4 mm) deposit | 166 |
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Physical Properties
ERCUAL-A3 filler wire have a 7.6 g/cm³ density and a melting range of 1025-1075°C. The welding material has excellent thermal conductivity and is highly resistant to wear and abrasion. However, the material is not suitable for use in high-temperature applications.
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Trade Names
| Class | AMPCO-TRODE |
| ERCUAL-A3 | AMPCO-TRODE 150 |
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Uses
ERCUAL-A3 welding electrode are commonly used in marine applications, including welding ship propellers, shafts, and other components that are exposed to seawater. The welding material is also used for welding parts in the chemical and petrochemical industries, oil drilling equipment, and valve seats.
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Corrosion Resistance
ERCUAL-A3 welding alloy have excellent corrosion resistance properties. The high aluminium content in the alloy forms an oxide layer on the surface of the welding material, which protects it from corrosion in seawater and other harsh environments.
ERCUAL-A3 Spooled Wire & Bare Filler Metal Rod Heat Treatment
ERCUAL-A3 welding wire do not require heat treatment. However, preheating to around 150°C may be necessary for welding materials thicker than 10mm to prevent cracking.
Conclusion
ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire, and bare filler metal rods are popular welding materials used in the marine industry due to their excellent mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. The high aluminium content in the alloy makes the welding material highly resistant to corrosion in harsh environments. In contrast, its excellent mechanical properties make it suitable for welding high-stress applications. Understanding the composition, mechanical and physical properties, uses, corrosion resistance and heat treatment of ERCUAL-A3 spooled wire and bare filler metal rod is important for welders who want to ensure the safety and integrity of the finished product.
Meet Heer, a dynamic and driven writer learning tricks of her trade in the metal industry. With a background in Digital Marketing, Heer brings a unique perspective to her writing, sharing valuable insights. Apart from blogging she like reading and hiking.
