Steel J506
J506 is a low-hydrogen, lime (basic) coated carbon steel covered electrode equivalent to AWS E5015, intended for structural steel joints that need toughness and crack resistance.
Reference datasheet — J506 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
J506 tempers and conditions
J506 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 for pressure vessels and thick rigid joints requiring stress relief; strength and hardness drop slightly, ductility and toughness improve. | 400 | 510 | 30 | 155 HB | — |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Default condition: properties of the as-deposited multi-pass weld metal with no post-weld heat treatment. | 440 | 540 | 28 | 170 HB | — |
What is J506?
J506 is a low-hydrogen, lime (basic) coated carbon steel covered electrode equivalent to AWS E5015, intended for structural steel joints that need toughness and crack resistance. It deposits weld metal at about 440 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation and 170 HB (87 HRB), usable to roughly 400 °C, in as-welded or post-weld heat treated condition. The basic coating is moisture-sensitive and must be baked and held in a quiver, and arc handling is less forgiving than rutile types. Where hydrogen control is not critical, the rutile electrode J422 is cheaper and easier to run. J506 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). J506 has a yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 50% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is J506 used for?
- structural steel
- pressure vessels
- boiler fabrication
- critical mild steel joints
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 28%, better than 89% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
J506 properties
Typical room-temperature values for J506-AW; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
J506 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).
Mechanical14
J506 has a yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 50% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
J506 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 48 W/m·K (27.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
J506 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (11/100), worse than 73% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of J506 takes about 32 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
J506's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (60/100).
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. J506 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with J506
Is J506 easy to machine?
As-deposited weld beads machine like normalized C-Mn steel (~55 % of AISI 1212); grind out slag inclusions before finish cuts to protect tool edges.
Can J506 be welded?
Bake electrodes at 300–350 °C for 1–2 h and hold in a 100–150 °C quiver; use short arc, DC+ (E5015 sodium type is DC only, E5016 potassium type runs AC/DC); preheat 100–150 °C on thick or high-restraint Q345/Q355 joints.
Can J506 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a wrought product — the deposit is ductile enough for cold straightening of welded assemblies but bends should be placed in base metal, not across the weld.
J506 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cdeposited metal | ≤ 0.12 | 0.07 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 1.6 | 0.95 |
| Si | ≤ 0.75 | 0.35 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Niresidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.03 |
| Crresidual | ≤ 0.2 | 0.03 |
| Moresidual | ≤ 0.3 | 0.02 |
| Vresidual | ≤ 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on J506?
Deposit rusts quickly; remove slag and spatter, then paint, metallize or hot-dip galvanize the welded assembly. Not anodizable.
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
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel J506 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Other
- E5015
How much does J506 cost?
J506 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.
J506 — frequently asked
What is J506 used for?
J506 is typically used for structural steel, pressure vessels, boiler fabrication and critical mild steel joints. In short: low-hydrogen structural electrode; higher toughness than rutile; requires baking and quiver.
What is the yield strength of J506?
J506 has a typical yield strength of 440 MPa (63.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 50% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is J506 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). As-deposited weld beads machine like normalized C-Mn steel (~55 % of AISI 1212); grind out slag inclusions before finish cuts to protect tool edges.
Can J506 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Bake electrodes at 300–350 °C for 1–2 h and hold in a 100–150 °C quiver; use short arc, DC+ (E5015 sodium type is DC only, E5016 potassium type runs AC/DC); preheat 100–150 °C on thick or high-restraint Q345/Q355 joints.
What surface finishes work on J506?
Deposit rusts quickly; remove slag and spatter, then paint, metallize or hot-dip galvanize the welded assembly. Not anodizable.
Can J506 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a wrought product — the deposit is ductile enough for cold straightening of welded assemblies but bends should be placed in base metal, not across the weld.
What is the maximum service temperature of J506?
J506 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 J506-AW and J506 PWHT?
AW is the default condition — default condition: properties of the as-deposited multi-pass weld metal with no post-weld heat treatment. PWHT: choose for pressure vessels and thick rigid joints requiring stress relief; strength and hardness drop slightly, ductility and toughness improve. Yield strength is 440 MPa in AW versus 400 MPa in PWHT.
How much does J506 cost?
J506 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 A5.1/A5.1M Specification for Carbon Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (E7015/E7016/E7018) — AWS (2012)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
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.