BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

18273:2004

Welding
consumables Wire
electrodes, wires and
rods for welding of
aluminium and
aluminium alloys
Classification

The European Standard EN ISO 18273:2004 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 25.160.20

12&23<,1*:,7+287%6,3(50,66,21(;&(37$63(50,77('%<&23<5,*+7/$:
 www.bzfxw.com
BS EN ISO 18273:2004

National foreword
This British Standard is the official English language version of
EN ISO 18273:2004. It is identical with ISO 18273:2004. It supersedes
BS 2901-4:1990 and BS 4300/13:1969 which are withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
WEE/39, Welding consumables, which has the responsibility to:

aid enquirers to understand the text;

present to the responsible international/European committee any
enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the
UK interests informed;
monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on

request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue
under the section entitled International Standards Correspondence Index, or
by using the Search facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of
British Standards Online.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN ISO title
page, pages 2 to 9 and a back cover.
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.

Amendments issued since publication

This British Standard was
published under the authority Amd. No. Date Comments
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee on
11 March 2004

BSI 11 March 2004

ISBN 0 580 43552 0

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 18273
NORME EUROPENNE
EUROPISCHE NORM March 2004

ICS 25.160.20

English version

Welding consumables - Wire electrodes, wires and rods for

welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys - Classification (ISO
18273:2004)

Produits consommables pour le soudage - Fils-lectrodes, Schweizustze - Massivdrhte und -stbe zum
fils et baguettes pour le soudage de l'aluminium et les Schmelzschweien von Aluminium und
alliages d'aluminium - Classification (ISO 18273:2004) Aluminiumlegierungen - Einteilung (ISO 18273:2004)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 October 2003.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMIT EUROPEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPISCHES KOMITEE FR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

2004 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 18273:2004: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
 www.bzfxw.com

EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

Contents Page

Foreword............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
2 Normative references ........................................................................................................................... 5
3 Classification......................................................................................................................................... 5
4 Symbols and requirements.................................................................................................................. 5
4.1 Symbols for the product form ............................................................................................................. 5
4.2 Symbol for the chemical composition ................................................................................................ 5
5 Mechanical properties of the weld metal............................................................................................ 5
6 Chemical analysis................................................................................................................................. 6
7 Retest ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
8 Technical delivery conditions.............................................................................................................. 6
9 Designation............................................................................................................................................ 9

2
 EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN ISO 18273:2004) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 121 Welding, the
secretariat of which is held by DIN, in collaboration with Technical Committee ISO/TC 44 Welding and allied
processes.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2004, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by September 2004.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

3
 www.bzfxw.com

EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

Introduction
For aluminium welding consumables there is no unique relationship between the product form (solid wire or
rod) and the welding process used (e.g. gas shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, plasma arc
welding or other welding processes). For this reason the solid wires or rods may be classified on the basis of
any of the above product forms and can be used as appropriate, for more than one of the above processes.

4
 EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

1 Scope
This standard specifies requirements for classification of solid wires and rods for fusion welding of aluminium
and aluminium alloys. The classification of the solid wires and rods is based on their chemical composition.

2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to
this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the
latest edition of the publication referred to applies (including amendments).

EN ISO 544, Welding consumables Technical delivery conditions for welding filler metals Type of product,
dimensions, tolerances and markings (ISO 544:2003).
ISO 31-0:1992, Quantities and units Part 0: General principles.
ISO 14344, Welding and allied processes Flux and gas shielded electrical welding processes Procurement
guidelines for consumables.

3 Classification
The classification is divided into two parts:

a) the first part indicates the product form being solid wires or rods, see 4.1;

b) the second part gives a numerical symbol indicating the chemical composition of the solid wire or rod, see
Table 1.

The aluminium or aluminium alloy chemical composition limits specified are strictly identical to those
registered to the Aluminum Association, Washington DC 20006, USA, for the corresponding alloys.

4 Symbols and requirements

4.1 Symbols for the product form

The symbol for the solid wire and rod shall be S.

NOTE One product form may be used for more than one welding process.

4.2 Symbol for the chemical composition

The numerical symbol in Table 1 indicates the chemical composition of a solid wire and rod, determined under
conditions given in clause 6.

NOTE In addition the chemical symbol may be used.

5 Mechanical properties of the weld metal

Mechanical properties of the weld metal are not part of the classification.

5
 www.bzfxw.com

EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

6 Chemical analysis
Chemical analysis shall be performed on samples of the product or the stock from which it is made. Any
analytical technique may be used, but in case of dispute reference shall be made to established published
methods.

7 Retest
If any test fails to meet the requirement, that test shall be repeated twice. The results of both retests shall
meet the requirement. Specimens for the retest may be taken from the original test sample or from a new test
sample. For chemical analysis, retest need be only for those specific elements that failed to meet their test
requirement. If the results of one ore both retests fail to meet the requirement, the material under test shall be
considered as not meeting the requirements of this specification for that classification.

In the event that, during preparation or after completion of any test, it is clearly determined that prescribed or
proper procedures were not followed in preparing the weld test sample or test specimen(s), or in conducting
the tests, the test shall be considered invalid, without regard to whether the test was actually completed, or
whether the test results met, or failed to meet, the requirement. That test shall be repeated, following proper
prescribed procedures. In this case, the requirement for doubling the number of test specimens does not
apply.

8 Technical delivery conditions

Technical delivery conditions shall meet the requirements in EN ISO 544 and ISO 14344.

6
 EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

Table 1 Symbol for the chemical composition of solid wires and rods
a b
Alloy symbol Chemical composition in % (m/m)
Numerical Chemical Si Fe Cu Mn Mg Cr Zn Ga, V Ti Zr Almin Be Other Other
each total
ALUMINIUM-LOW ALLOYED
Al 1070 Al99,7 0,20 0,25 0,04 0,03 0,03 0,04 V 0,05 0,03 99,70 0,0003 0,03
Al 1080A Al99,8(A) 0,15 0,15 0,03 0,02 0,02 0,06 Ga 0,03 0,02 99,80 0,0003 0,02
Al 1188 Al 99,88 0,06 0,06 0,005 0,01 0,01 0,03 Ga 0,03 0,01 99,88 0,0003 0,01
V 0,05
Al 1100 Al99,0Cu Si + Fe 0,95 0,05 0,20 0,05 0,10 99,00 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 1200 Al99,0 Si + Fe 1,00 0,05 0,05 0,10 0,05 99,00 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 1450 Al99,5Ti 0,25 0,40 0,05 0,05 0,05 0,07 0,10 - 0,20 99,50 0,0003 0,03
ALUMINIUM-COPPER
Al 2319 AlCu6MnZrTi 0,20 0,30 5,8 6,8 0,20 0,40 0,02 0,10 V 0,05 0,15 0,10 0,20 0,10 0,25 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
ALUMINIUM-MANGANESE
Al 3103 AlMn 1 0,50 0,7 0,10 0,9 - 1,5 0,30 0,10 0,20 Ti + Zr 0,10 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
ALUMINIUM-SILICIUM
Al 4009 AlSi5Cu1Mg 4,5 5,5 0,20 1,0 1,5 0,10 0,45 0,6 0,10 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4010 AlSi7Mg 6,5 7,5 0,20 0,20 0,10 0,30 0,45 0,10 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4011 AlSi7Mg0,5Ti 6,5 7,5 0,20 0,20 0,10 0,45 0,7 0,10 0,04 0,20 Rem 0,04 0,07 0,05 0,15
Al 4018 AlSi7Mg 6,5 - 7,5 0,20 0,05 0,10 0,50 - 0,8 0,10 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4043 AlSi5 4,5 - 6,0 0,8 0,30 0,05 0,05 0,10 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4043A AlSi5(A) 4,5 - 6,0 0,6 0,30 0,15 0,20 0,10 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4046 AlSi10Mg 9,0 - 11,0 0,50 0,03 0,40 0,20 - 0,50 0,10 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4047 AlSi12 11,0 - 13,0 0,8 0,30 0,15 0,10 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4047A AlSi12(A) 11,0 - 13,0 0,6 0,30 0,15 0,10 0,20 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4145 AlSi10Cu4 9,3 10,7 0,8 3,3 4,7 0,15 0,15 0,15 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 4643 AlSi4Mg 3,6 4,6 0,8 0,10 0,05 0,10 0,30 - 0,10 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
ALUMINIUM-MAGNESIUM
Al 5249 AlMg2Mn0,8Zr 0,25 0,40 0,05 0,50 - 1,1 1,6 - 2,5 0,30 0,20 0,15 0,10 - 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5554 AlMg2,7Mn 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,50 1,0 2,4 3,0 0,05 0,20 0,25 0,05 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5654 AlMg3,5Ti Si + Fe 0,45 0,05 0,01 3,1 3,9 0,15 0,35 0,20 0,05 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5654A AlMg3,5Ti Si + Fe 0,45 0,05 0,01 3,1 3,9 0,15 0,35 0,20 0,05 0,15 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
Al 5754c AlMg3 0,40 0,40 0,10 0,50 2,6 - 3,6 0,30 0,20 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5356 AlMg5Cr(A) 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,05 - 0,20 4,5 - 5,5 0,05 - 0,20 0,10 0,06 - 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15

7
 EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

Table 1 Symbol for the chemical composition of solid wires and rods (contcluded)
a b
Alloy symbol Chemical composition in % (m/m)
Numerical Chemical Si Fe Cu Mn Mg Cr Zn Ga, V Ti Zr Almin Be Other Other
each total
Al 5356A AlMg5Cr(A) 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,05 - 0,20 4,5 - 5,5 0,05 - 0,20 0,10 0,06 - 0,20 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
Al 5556 AlMg5Mn1Ti 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,50 1,0 4,7 5,5 0,05 0,20 0,25 0,05 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5556C AlMg5Mn1Ti 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,50 1,0 4,7 5,5 0,05 0,20 0,25 0,05 0,20 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
Al 5556A AlMg5Mn 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,6 - 1,0 5,0 - 5,5 0,05 - 0,20 0,20 0,05 - 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5556B AlMg5Mn 0,25 0,40 0,10 0,6 - 1,0 5,0 - 5,5 0,05 - 0,20 0,20 0,05 - 0,20 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
Al 5183 AlMg4,5Mn0,7(A) 0,40 0,40 0,10 0,50 to 1,0 4,3 - 5,2 0,05 - 0,25 0,25 0,15 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5183A AlMg4,5Mn0,7(A) 0,40 0,40 0,10 0,50 to 1,0 4,3 - 5,2 0,05 - 0,25 0,25 0,15 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
Al 5087 AlMg4,5MnZr 0,25 0,40 0,05 0,7 to 1,1 4,5 - 5,2 0,05 - 0,25 0,25 0,15 0,10 - 0,20 Rem 0,0003 0,05 0,15
Al 5187 AlMg4,5MnZr 0,25 0,40 0,05 0,7 to 1,1 4,5 - 5,2 0,05 - 0,25 0,25 0,15 0,10 - 0,20 Rem 0,0005 0,05 0,15
a Single values shown in the table are maximum values, except for Al.
b The results shall be rounded to the same number of significant figures as in the specified value using the rules in accordance with annex B, Rule A of ISO 31-0:1992.
c Alloy Al 5754 also limits the sum (Mn + Cr): 0,10 to 0,6.

NOTE Consumables not listed in the Table can be symbolised by Al Z. Chemical symbol established by the manufacturer may be added in brackets.

8
www.bzfxw.com
 EN ISO 18273:2004 (E)

9 Designation
The designation of solid wires and rods shall follow the principle given in the example below.

EXAMPLE 1 A solid wire (S) for gas shielded metal arc welding has a chemical composition within the limits for the
alloy symbol Al 4043 (AlSi5) of Table 1, is designated:

Solid wire EN ISO 18273 S Al 4043

or alternatively

Solid wire EN ISO 18273 S Al 4043 (AlSi5)

EXAMPLE 2 A solid rod (S) for tungsten arc welding is designated:

Solid rod EN ISO 18273 S Al 4043

or alternatively

Solid rod EN ISO 18273 S Al 4043 (AlSi5)

where:

EN ISO is the standard number;

S is the product form (see 4.1);

Al 4043 is the chemical composition of welding consumable (see Table 1);

AlSi5 is the optional chemical composition of welding consumable (see Table 1).

9
 www.bzfxw.com
BS EN ISO
18273:2004
BSI British Standards Institution
BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing
British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
international level. It is incorporated by Royal Charter.

Revisions
British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of
British Standards should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or
editions.
It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services.
We would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using
this British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee
responsible, the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9000. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7400.
BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures
that subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards.

Buying standards
Orders for all BSI, international and foreign standards publications should be
addressed to Customer Services. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001.
Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001. Email: orders@bsi-global.com. Standards are also
available from the BSI website at http://www.bsi-global.com.
In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the
BSI implementation of those that have been published as British Standards,
unless otherwise requested.

Information on standards
BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and
international standards through its Library and its Technical Help to Exporters
Service. Various BSI electronic information services are also available which give
details on all its products and services. Contact the Information Centre.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7111. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7048. Email: info@bsi-global.com.
Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments
and receive substantial discounts on the purchase price of standards. For details
of these and other benefits contact Membership Administration.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7002. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001.
Email: membership@bsi-global.com.
Information regarding online access to British Standards via British Standards
Online can be found at http://www.bsi-global.com/bsonline.
Further information about BSI is available on the BSI website at
http://www.bsi-global.com.

Copyright
Copyright subsists in all BSI publications. BSI also holds the copyright, in the
UK, of the publications of the international standardization bodies. Except as
permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 no extract may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written
permission from BSI.
This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard,
of necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these
details are to be used for any other purpose than implementation then the prior
BSI written permission of BSI must be obtained.
389 Chiswick High Road Details and advice can be obtained from the Copyright & Licensing Manager.
London Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7070. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7553.
Email: copyright@bsi-global.com.
W4 4AL