Steel E80C-W2 PWHT
Heat-treated state
PWHT = post-weld heat treated
Use when code or thick-section restraint requires stress relief; strength drops slightly and ductility/toughness improve.
Values for the PWHT condition
What is E80C-W2 PWHT?
E80C-W2 PWHT is E80C-W2 heat treated to PWHT — use when code or thick-section restraint requires stress relief; strength drops slightly and ductility/toughness improve. E80C-W2 PWHT has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). E80C-W2 PWHT has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F).
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 30/100, better than 95% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 28%, better than 89% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 87% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
E80C-W2 PWHT properties
Typical room-temperature values for E80C-W2 PWHT; 6 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are E80C-W2 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
E80C-W2 PWHT has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,460°C (2,660 °F).
Mechanical13
E80C-W2 PWHT has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
E80C-W2 PWHT is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 40 W/m·K (23.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 64% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
E80C-W2 PWHT conducts electricity at 7.2 % IACS, worse than 71% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (30/100), better than 95% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of E80C-W2 PWHT takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
E80C-W2 PWHT's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with E80C-W2 PWHT
Is E80C-W2 easy to machine?
As-deposited ~185 HB weld metal machines like normalized 4130 — carbide tools, moderate speeds; grind flush before NDT if required.
Can E80C-W2 be welded?
Run DCEP with 100 % CO₂ or 75–80 % Ar/CO₂, 20–30 L/min; keep preheat/interpass per A588 thickness (typ. 20–110 °C) and interpass ≤250 °C; single-pass welds on weathering steel may be made with plain carbon wire, multipass exposed joints should use W2 for color/corrosion match.
Can E80C-W2 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a wrought product — deposit shape is set by joint design; avoid heavy cold straightening of finished welds.
What surface finishes work on E80C-W2?
Leave bare so the weld patinas with the A588/Q355NH base metal, or blast and paint the whole assembly; do not grind bright and leave a mixed surface, as patina color match then takes longer.
E80C-W2 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cweld metal analysis, AWS A5.29 | ≤ 0.12 | 0.06 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 1.3 | 1.05 |
| Si | 0.35 – 0.8 | 0.55 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Ni | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Cr | 0.45 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Cugives the weathering/patina behaviour | 0.3 – 0.75 | 0.5 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| V | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
E80C-W2 PWHT — frequently asked
What is E80C-W2 PWHT used for?
E80C-W2 PWHT is typically used for weathering steel bridges, exposed structural steel, architectural weathering steel and rail car construction. In short: weathering steel color match; cu-Ni-Cr patina deposit; for exposed multipass joints.
What is the yield strength of E80C-W2 PWHT?
E80C-W2 PWHT has a typical yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 570 MPa (82.7 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades.
Is E80C-W2 PWHT easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). As-deposited ~185 HB weld metal machines like normalized 4130 — carbide tools, moderate speeds; grind flush before NDT if required.
Can E80C-W2 PWHT be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Run DCEP with 100 % CO₂ or 75–80 % Ar/CO₂, 20–30 L/min; keep preheat/interpass per A588 thickness (typ. 20–110 °C) and interpass ≤250 °C; single-pass welds on weathering steel may be made with plain carbon wire, multipass exposed joints should use W2 for color/corrosion match.
What surface finishes work on E80C-W2 PWHT?
Leave bare so the weld patinas with the A588/Q355NH base metal, or blast and paint the whole assembly; do not grind bright and leave a mixed surface, as patina color match then takes longer.
Can E80C-W2 PWHT be formed, bent or molded?
Not a wrought product — deposit shape is set by joint design; avoid heavy cold straightening of finished welds.
What is the maximum service temperature of E80C-W2 PWHT?
E80C-W2 PWHT is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- AWS A5.29/A5.29M — Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Flux Cored Arc Welding — American Welding Society (2010)
- AWS A5.36/A5.36M — Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Flux Cored Electrodes (open classification) — American Welding Society (2016)
- ASTM A588/A588M — High-Strength Low-Alloy Structural Steel with Atmospheric Corrosion Resistance — ASTM (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials (weathering steels) — ASM International (2005)
- Weathering-steel cored wire datasheets (Lincoln Electric, ESAB, Hobart, / ) — various (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.