This specification prescribes requirements for the classification of bare stainless steel wire electrodes (including stranded wire in which all wires in the strand are from one heat), strip electrodes, wires, and rods for gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, plasma arc welding, submerged arc welding, electroslag welding, and laser beam welding of stainless and heat resisting steels. The classification of the wire electrodes, strip electrodes, wires, and rods is based upon their chemical composition. The chromium content of these filler metals is not less than 10.5% and the iron content exceeds that of any other element. For purposes of classification, the iron content shall be derived as the balance element when all other elements are considered to be at their minimum specified values.
Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard and, therefore, are not fully addressed herein. Some safety and health information can be found in Informative Annex Clauses A6 and A12. Safety and health information is available from other sources, including, but not limited to, ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes, and applicable federal and state regulations.
This specification’s Annex A makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). The measurements are not exact equivalents. The specification designated A5.9 uses U.S. customary units in its Annex A and the specification designated A5.9M uses SI units in its Annex A. The latter units are shown within brackets [ ] or in appropriate columns in tables and figures.
