Aluminum filler metals approved for wrought commercial applications

Maxal has introduced new, patent-pending 4943 aluminum GMAW wire and GTAW cut lengths, the first aluminum filler metal to be developed, registered by the Aluminum Association, and classified by AWS for wrought commercial applications in more than 40 years, according to the manufacturer.

Offering corrosion resistance, ease of welding, and low hot-cracking sensitivity, the filler is suitable for elevated-temperature applications and provides the ability to reduce weld size without compromising strength.

The filler metal has an AWS A5.10 classification and an F23 filler metal material group application from ASME. It can be used for welding 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx with less than 2.5 percent manganese, and 6xxx series base metals.

The company reports that tests have shown up to 40 percent increase in yield strength and up to 20 percent increase in ultimate tensile strength with this product compared to 4043 aluminum products, as well as an increase of about 20 percent in shear strength. The filler metal can be used as an alternative for 4643 filler metal in postweld heat treatment applications. It does not depend on dilution from the base metal during welding to increase weld deposit strength.