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Consumables Corner: Before choosing filler, know your 4140

Q: We need to weld 4140 steel to AR 360 plate and are thinking of using an E120 electrode to try and match the strength. Is this the right electrode for our welding application?

A: Before you choose a filler metal, there are a few things you should consider for this application.

First, 4140 steel comes in many grades, which can influence filler metal type, preheat temperatures, and postweld treatments. Was the 4140 chosen for its strength or its ability to handle impact and abrasive conditions? Will the welded joints be subjected to high-impact and abrasive conditions as well? Since that information isn’t available, we will go with the best-case scenario and assume that the final product will have to withstand impact and abrasive conditions.

Because AR 360 isn't used for structural applications, there is no need to try to match tensile strength. Depending on the heat treatment of the 4140, tensile strength can be from 90 to 160 KSI. When welding these two base materials, alloy recovery will occur in the weld, which will yield improved properties; therefore, you wouldn't want or need to weld with a high-tensile-strength filler metal because this additional alloy pickup would cause the weld to crack.

Since most of your typical filler metals will not withstand abrasive environments, you will more than likely want to weld the surface with a hardfacing electrode to cover your structural supporting welds. Usually one to two layers of hardfacing weld covering the entire surface of the primary weld will do the job. These electrodes are designed to handle impact, abrasive conditions, or a combination of the two. You’ll want to select the best hardfacing electrode based on your information of the in-service condition of the weldment.

Finally, the proper filler metal can be a low-carbon E70XX or E80XX electrode with some nickel, or a stainless steel electrode such as E309. E70XX is the most cost-effective of the three choices; however, if the in-service conditions are subzero temperatures, you will want something that can handle cold temperatures, hence the nickel-based or stainless steel filler metals.

Don't forget to preheat the 4140 and slow-cool the final weldment, because it is prone to cracking. Without knowing the specific heat treatment of the 4140, I generally recommend a preheat temperature of at least 450 degrees F.

About the Author

Nino Mascalco

Independent welding consumables professional