Steel EM12K
EM12K is a silicon-killed, medium-manganese submerged-arc wire for carbon steel, run with neutral or slightly active fluxes.
Reference datasheet — EM12K is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the AW condition
EM12K tempers and conditions
EM12K is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Post-weld heat treated | Choose when the fabrication receives code-required stress relief; strength drops slightly and ductility/toughness rise. | 420 | 520 | 30 | 155 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Default condition: deposit tested in the as-welded state with a neutral agglomerated/fused flux for structural and plate fabrication. | 450 | 550 | 28 | 165 HB | 10 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EM12K is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
WIRE-CD | Wire | Supply form |
What is EM12K?
EM12K is a silicon-killed, medium-manganese submerged-arc wire for carbon steel, run with neutral or slightly active fluxes. As-welded deposits give about 450 MPa yield, 550 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation and 165 HB, with service to 400 °C; supply is cold-drawn copper-coated coil in 2.0–6.4 mm. It is the general-purpose choice for high-deposition plate, vessel and structural seams, where flux selection determines whether F7A2 or F7P2 requirements are met. Bare deposits rust readily, and where higher weld-metal strength or alloy pickup is needed EH14 is the next step. EM12K has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,500°C (2,732 °F). EM12K has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is EM12K used for?
- submerged arc welding of plate
- pressure vessels
- structural fabrication
- shipbuilding
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Easy to machine — 65/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 28%, better than 89% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades
EM12K properties
Typical room-temperature values for EM12K-AW; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
EM12K has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,500°C (2,732 °F).
Mechanical16
EM12K has a yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
EM12K is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EM12K conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EM12K takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
EM12K's machinability is good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (80/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. EM12K is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EM12K
Is EM12K easy to machine?
As-welded deposit machines like AISI 1018 (~65 % of 1212); use sharp carbide and expect some hardness scatter across weld/HAZ boundaries.
Can EM12K be welded?
Designed for submerged arc (single/multi-wire, DCEP or AC) with neutral or slightly active fluxes; keep flux dry, control heat input to protect toughness, and select flux to hit F7A2 vs F7P2 requirements.
Can EM12K be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as cold-drawn coiled wire; the silicon-killed, low-carbon chemistry drawn to 2.0–6.4 mm feeds smoothly with minimal cast/helix issues.
EM12K 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CAWS A5.17 EM12K | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.25 | 1.05 |
| Sisilicon-killed | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.22 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Cuincluding any copper coating | ≤ 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on EM12K?
Copper coating aids current pickup and shelf life; finished weldments must be painted, primed or galvanized as bare deposits rust readily.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
How much does EM12K cost?
EM12K is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EM12K — frequently asked
What is EM12K used for?
EM12K is typically used for submerged arc welding of plate, pressure vessels, structural fabrication and shipbuilding. In short: general-purpose SAW wire; neutral-flux plate workhorse; leanest-alloy SAW option.
What is the yield strength of EM12K?
EM12K has a typical yield strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 52% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is EM12K easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 93% of steel grades). As-welded deposit machines like AISI 1018 (~65 % of 1212); use sharp carbide and expect some hardness scatter across weld/HAZ boundaries.
Can EM12K be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Designed for submerged arc (single/multi-wire, DCEP or AC) with neutral or slightly active fluxes; keep flux dry, control heat input to protect toughness, and select flux to hit F7A2 vs F7P2 requirements.
What surface finishes work on EM12K?
Copper coating aids current pickup and shelf life; finished weldments must be painted, primed or galvanized as bare deposits rust readily.
Can EM12K be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as cold-drawn coiled wire; the silicon-killed, low-carbon chemistry drawn to 2.0–6.4 mm feeds smoothly with minimal cast/helix issues.
What is the maximum service temperature of EM12K?
EM12K 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.
What is the difference between EM12K-AW and EM12K PWHT?
AW is the default condition — default condition: deposit tested in the as-welded state with a neutral agglomerated/fused flux for structural and plate fabrication. PWHT: choose when the fabrication receives code-required stress relief; strength drops slightly and ductility/toughness rise. Yield strength is 450 MPa in AW versus 420 MPa in PWHT.
How much does EM12K cost?
EM12K is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- AWS A5.17/A5.17M — Carbon Steel Electrodes and Fluxes for Submerged Arc Welding — American Welding Society (2019)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part C, SFA-5.17 — ASME (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- SAW wire/flux combination all-weld-metal data (Lincoln Electric, ESAB, Hobart) — Various filler metal producers (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.