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WPS for Alloy 330

WPS for Alloy 330

WPS for Alloy 330

(OP)
Our WPS for welding alloy RA 330 (P46) is qualified with GTAW RA 330-04 and SMAW RA 330-04-16 (Stainless steel electrode with approx 35% Ni, 19% CR, and 5.2% Mn). Those filler identifications are a Rolled Alloys designation vs. an AWS classification.

I contacted Rolled Alloys two years ago to ask them about SFA and F-No’s. They told me that their filler metal did not have a SFA or F-No. They also told me that they did not recommend the use of the fillers metals in AWS/SFA A5.9 or A5.4 to weld RA330 base metal. It is highly sensitive to weld solidification cracking. The high manganese content of RA330 fillers greatly increase this fillers resistance to solidification cracking.

The UNS # for RA 330-04-16 is W88334 and is not included in AWS/SFA 5.4

On the original PQR or the WPS, there is no listing for SFA, weld metal A-No. or F-No. The GTAW RA 330-04 or SMAW RA 330-04-16 did not fall into an F-No. grouping, and that is why they were not listed on the PQR or WPS.

We now use a brand of SMAW filler metal that has an AWS classification of E330-16 and SFA 5.4. To date we have had no problem using this electrode.

In SFA 5.4, this covered electrode is a stainless steel filler metal with 33.0-37.0% Ni, 14.0-17.0% Cr, and 1.0-2.5 Mn. Looking in ASME IX-2001 QW-432 this E330-16 filler metal is austenitic, SFA 5.4, and class EXXX(X)-16. Sounds like F-No. 5 to me.

AWS classification is a supplementary variable and would not be a reason for us to re-qualify here.

The WPS needs to be procedurally correct and reflect what we are using. The WPS needs to state E330-16 and it electrical characteristics.

Here are the two questions I'm researching:

1. We are using a covered electrode with approx the same chemical composition as the qualified covered electrode except for the lower manganese percentage. Do we have an editorial revision here by adding the SFA and F-No. information along with the new AWS classification?

2. F-No’s are essential and changing requires re-qualification. Do we have to re-qualify the WPS because now we are going from a non existent F-No. to F-No 5?

I look forward to getting some feedback on this.

Regards, Donnie Mann

RE: WPS for Alloy 330

If your weld application is not related to a specific Code or Standard that requires AWS/ASME endorsed filler metals, you can generate a WPS using a format that is suitable for your application. In other words, you can weld coat hanger wire as a filler metal.

The answer to your second question is yes, IF you are required by a specific Code or Standard to use AWS/ASME endorsed products.

RE: WPS for Alloy 330

(OP)
metengr:
Thank-you for responding.  After reading your post I looked over our specifications and did not see any reference that requires use of only AWS/SFA specified fillers.  Typically on the application (chutes leading into a rotary kiln) where we use alloy 330, the welding requirements are welders and procedures qualified IAW ASME IX and weld quality per AWS D1.1.  
Regards, Donnie Mann

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