SMAW · Hardfacing
EFeMn-A
A work hardening manganese steel surfacing rod that stays soft and tough as deposited, then hardens dramatically at the surface once impact loading starts.
What the designation means
- E
- Covered electrode for shielded metal arc surfacing.
- Fe
- An iron base deposit rather than a nickel, cobalt, or copper base.
- Mn
- Austenitic manganese steel chemistry, the classic work hardening deposit used under heavy impact.
- -A
- The specific chemistry class within the manganese family, a carbon-manganese type without the nickel addition carried by the companion class.
At a glance
| Process | SMAW |
|---|---|
| Family | Hardfacing |
| Positions | Flat and horizontal, with buildup normally done downhand |
| Polarity | DCEP, or AC |
| Shielding | Self-shielded by the covering |
| Minimum tensile strength | — |
Typical uses
- Rebuilding crusher jaws, cones, and hammer mill parts
- Repair of railroad frogs, points, and other impact loaded rail hardware
- Buildup on dipper teeth, shovel lips, and dredge components
How it runs
- Deposit is soft and machinable as welded, then work hardens under repeated impact
- Non-magnetic austenitic structure, unlike most hardfacing overlays
- Interpass temperature must be kept low or the deposit embrittles
- Deposits should be short beads, peened and cooled, rather than long continuous runs
Storage and handling
Keep dry in sealed packaging; surfacing coverings pick up moisture and cause porosity in an already crack sensitive deposit.
Compare with
SMAWENi-CIA high nickel rod for repairing grey cast iron, laying down a soft deposit that can be machined afterwards and tolerates the carbon picked up from the base metal.SMAWENiFe-CIThe nickel-iron cast iron rod, stronger and more crack resistant than the pure nickel version and the usual choice for ductile iron and heavily restrained repairs.SMAWECuSn-AA phosphor bronze rod for joining and overlaying copper alloys, and for building up bearing and wear surfaces where a soft, low friction deposit is wanted.