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Corten TIG Wire

Description:

Solid wire suitable for welding weather resistant structural steels like corten and other high strength low-alloy steels. Alloyed with copper and nickel which gives a high resistance against atmospheric corrosion. This wire provides a unique aesthetic appeal and can be identified by its typically reddish rust or patina look for structural and artistic applications. Typically used on the construction of containers, tanks, bridges, building panels, chimneys, means of transport, offshore platforms etc. Green wire is produced using virgin raw materials sourced from specialised steel mills, which ensures consistent reliability and quality.

Welding Current: DC-
Wire Composition, wt.%

  C Si Mn Cr Ni V Zr
Typical 0,08 0,80 1,40 0,25 0,80 0,30 0,15

Corten TIG Wire FAQs

Questions buyers ask when choosing and using TIG filler wire for weathering steel.

What is weathering steel TIG wire, and how does it differ from ordinary mild steel TIG wire?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Weathering steel TIG wire is a solid steel filler with small additions of elements such as nickel and copper. These additions improve resistance to atmospheric corrosion compared with a plain carbon-manganese filler, so the weld metal behaves more like the weathering steel plate it joins.

That is the main reason to choose it over a general-purpose mild steel rod: not extra strength, but a weld that weathers in a similar way. Makers also point out that the alloying lets some of these rods be used on other higher-strength steels, but check the maker's data sheet for the specific rod before relying on that.

What does an ER80S-G classification tell me, and what does it leave out?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

In ER80S-G the 80 relates to the minimum tensile strength class and the G stands for a general classification. A general classification means the standard does not fix every requirement that it fixes for the other classes, in particular the exact chemical composition.

The practical point is that two rods both labelled with a G classification can have different chemistry and properties. For a weathering steel job, do not assume they are interchangeable. Check the maker's data sheet or inspection certificate for the actual analysis, shielding gas and mechanical properties, and compare them with what your procedure and the plate specification need.

Will the weld match the colour of the plate as it weathers?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Often it will come close, but it depends on the filler, the joint and the exposure. Filler metals that are alloyed to match weathering steel generally give the best and quickest colour match. A plain carbon steel weld usually looks different at first and corrodes at a different rate, although over a long time all welds tend to take on a patina.

Thin plate tends to blend better because more of the parent metal mixes into the weld. If appearance matters, such as architectural or artistic work, use a matching alloyed filler, make a trial weld and let it weather before committing to the full job.

Do I have to use weathering filler for every pass on a weld?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Not always, but it depends on the joint and the design. Bridge guidance notes that weld metal from matching alloyed consumables becomes copper-rich, which can cause difficulties if the weld is also restrained. It recommends plain carbon-manganese consumables only in limited cases, such as single-run fillet welds and butt welds made with one run from each side, where dilution from the plate supplies enough alloy for corrosion resistance. Some filler suppliers also describe using carbon steel filler for most of a large multi-pass weld and an alloyed filler on the final layers where the code permits.

This is a design and procedure decision, not a buyer's choice. Follow the welding procedure specification and the designer's requirements.

What polarity and settings suit this TIG wire?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Like other steel TIG filler, it is normally used with DC electrode negative (DC-) and a pure argon shield, with a tungsten electrode suited to DC, kept clean and ground lengthways to a point. Polarity and gas are the same as for ordinary steel TIG, so the usual machine set-up applies.

Current, travel speed and filler diameter then depend on the plate thickness, joint type and position. Start from the machine and consumable maker's guidance, and prove the settings on an offcut of the same plate before welding the real joint.

How do I decide whether weathering steel needs preheating?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

There is no single temperature. Steel makers explain that the need for preheat depends on the steel's carbon equivalent, the hydrogen level of the process or consumable, the heat input and the combined thickness of the joint. Low-hydrogen processes and consumables reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking and often reduce the need to preheat.

TIG is a low-hydrogen process when the rod and joint are clean and dry, but thick or heavily restrained joints can still need preheat. Take the figure from your welding procedure, the plate certificate and the relevant welding standard rather than from a general rule of thumb.