This specification prescribes requirements for the classification of stainless steel electrodes for flux cored arc welding and flux cored rods for root pass welding with the gas tungsten arc process.(Footnote 1) It includes only those products whose cores contain nonmetallic ingredients comprising at least 5 wt.% of the electrode or rod.(Footnote 2)

The chromium content of undiluted weld metal from these electrodes and rods is not less than 10.5%(Footnote 3) nominal 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 set at their specified minimum values.

Footnote 1 - In ANSI/AWS A5.22-80, stainless steel classifications for 98% Argon - 2% Oxygen gas shielding existed (EXXXT-2). The combination of a slag covering and this shielding gas has been found to be inappropriate for flux cored arc welding and the EXXXT-2 Classifications have therefore been deleted from A5.22-95.

Footnote 2 - Stainless steel products with less than 5 wt.% non-metallic content are properly classified as metal cored electrodes or rods according to ANSI/AWS A5.9, Specification for Bare Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes and Rods.

Footnote 3 - This revision includes the E502T-X and E505T-X classifications. These electrodes (although they may have differing designators) will also be included in the next revision of ANSI/AWS A5.29, Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Flux Cored Arc Welding. They will be deleted from this specification (ANSI/AWS A5.22) in the first revision following their incorporation in ANSI/AWS A5.29.