Steel J506 PWHT
Heat-treated state
PWHT = post-weld heat treated
Choose for pressure vessels and thick rigid joints requiring stress relief; strength and hardness drop slightly, ductility and toughness improve.
Values for the PWHT condition
Other J506 tempers and conditions
J506 is listed in 2 conditions; see the grade overview at J506.
- PWHT
- AW
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PWHTThis page 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 PWHT?
J506 PWHT is J506 heat treated to PWHT — choose for pressure vessels and thick rigid joints requiring stress relief; strength and hardness drop slightly, ductility and toughness improve. J506 PWHT has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). J506 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). AW is the default condition FabDigit quotes; PWHT is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 30%, better than 93% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% 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 PWHT properties
Typical room-temperature values for J506 PWHT; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are J506 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
J506 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).
Mechanical14
J506 PWHT has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
J506 PWHT is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °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 PWHT 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 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%.
Manufacturability7
J506 PWHT's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (60/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with J506 PWHT
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.
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.
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 | — |
J506 PWHT — frequently asked
What is J506 PWHT used for?
J506 PWHT 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 PWHT?
J506 PWHT has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 510 MPa (74 ksi) — weaker than 60% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is J506 PWHT 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 PWHT 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 PWHT?
Deposit rusts quickly; remove slag and spatter, then paint, metallize or hot-dip galvanize the welded assembly. Not anodizable.
Can J506 PWHT 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 PWHT?
J506 PWHT is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.