Tungsten Alloy EWCe-2
AISI/SAE AWS A5.12 EWCe-2 · GB GB/T 4189 WC20 · ISO 6848 WC20
EWCe-2 (WC20) is a tungsten electrode doped with 2% ceria (CeO2), covered by AWS A5.12 and GB/T 4189, developed as a non-radioactive substitute for thoriated electrodes.
Reference datasheet — EWCe-2 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 GF condition
EWCe-2 tempers and conditions
EWCe-2 is supplied in one standard condition, GF. GF is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EWCe-2 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CC | Chemically cleaned | Surface finish |
SW | As-swaged / black | Surface finish |
TG | Pre-ground tip | Coating |
What is EWCe-2?
EWCe-2 (WC20) is a tungsten electrode doped with 2% ceria (CeO2), covered by AWS A5.12 and GB/T 4189, developed as a non-radioactive substitute for thoriated electrodes. It gives good arc starting and arc stability on both DC and AC, particularly at low current, and is supplied as ground, chemically cleaned or ready-tipped rod. Tensile strength is about 1300 MPa with 1100 MPa yield and 2% elongation, thermal conductivity 160 W/m·K and electrical conductivity 30% IACS, but the rod is brittle at room temperature and the listed maximum service temperature is 500 °C in air. For general AC/DC use with longer tip life, EWLa-1 is the nearest alternative. EWCe-2 has a density of 19.1 g/cm³ (0.69 lb/in³), heavier than 52% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,410°C (6,170 °F). EWCe-2 has a yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) — stronger than 78% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
What is EWCe-2 used for?
- DC and AC TIG welding
- Thin-gauge stainless steel
- Orbital pipe welding
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 82/100, better than 98% of tungsten alloy grades
- High strength — 1,100 MPa (160 ksi), better than 78% of tungsten alloy grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of tungsten alloy grades
EWCe-2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EWCe-2-GF; bars are the position among tungsten alloy grades.
Physical3
EWCe-2 has a density of 19.1 g/cm³ (0.69 lb/in³), heavier than 52% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,410°C (6,170 °F).
Mechanical10
EWCe-2 has a yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) — stronger than 78% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
Thermal6
EWCe-2 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 160 W/m·K (92.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 55% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EWCe-2 conducts electricity at 30 % IACS, better than 64% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 98% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EWCe-2 takes about 390 MJ of energy and emits 23 kg of CO₂ — more than 52% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability7
EWCe-2's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 71% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
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 tungsten alloy family
Yield strength against density for every tungsten alloy grade FabDigit runs. EWCe-2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EWCe-2
Is EWCe-2 easy to machine?
Diamond-wheel or SiC grinding and EDM only — the rod is brittle at room temperature and chips or cracks under turning/drilling; grind tips longitudinally and capture the dust.
Can EWCe-2 be welded?
Not a weldable structural material; joined to holders mechanically or by vacuum brazing with Ni/Cu-Ag fillers, and it is itself the non-consumable electrode in GTAW/plasma.
Can EWCe-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed only by the mill route (press–sinter–swage–draw) at 1200–1600 °C; cold bending fractures the rod, so cut to length rather than bend.
EWCe-2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CeO2ceria dopant, non-radioactive | 1.8 – 2.2 | 2 |
| impurities (total other oxides/metals)per ISO 6848 / AWS A5.12 | ≤ 0.2 | 0.1 |
| W≥97.30 % min per ISO 6848 WC20 | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on EWCe-2?
Supplied ground or etched; keep the surface clean and oxide-free, avoid oxidising heat above ~400 °C in air, and re-grind the tip taper (typically 20–60° included angle) to restore arc stability.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Tungsten Alloy EWCe-2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- AWS A5.12 EWCe-2
- ISO
- 6848 WC20
- GB (China)
- GB/T 4189 WC20
- Other
- WC20
How much does EWCe-2 cost?
EWCe-2 is a high-cost tungsten alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EWCe-2 — frequently asked
What is EWCe-2 used for?
EWCe-2 is typically used for DC and AC TIG welding, thin-gauge stainless steel and orbital pipe welding. In short: non-radioactive thoria substitute; stable low-current arc; works on AC and DC.
What is the yield strength of EWCe-2?
EWCe-2 has a typical yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) — stronger than 78% of tungsten alloy grades.
Is EWCe-2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 71% of tungsten alloy grades). Diamond-wheel or SiC grinding and EDM only — the rod is brittle at room temperature and chips or cracks under turning/drilling; grind tips longitudinally and capture the dust.
Can EWCe-2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not a weldable structural material; joined to holders mechanically or by vacuum brazing with Ni/Cu-Ag fillers, and it is itself the non-consumable electrode in GTAW/plasma.
What surface finishes work on EWCe-2?
Supplied ground or etched; keep the surface clean and oxide-free, avoid oxidising heat above ~400 °C in air, and re-grind the tip taper (typically 20–60° included angle) to restore arc stability.
Can EWCe-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed only by the mill route (press–sinter–swage–draw) at 1200–1600 °C; cold bending fractures the rod, so cut to length rather than bend.
What is the maximum service temperature of EWCe-2?
EWCe-2 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does EWCe-2 cost?
EWCe-2 is a high-cost tungsten alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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 A5.12/A5.12M — Tungsten and Tungsten-Alloy Electrodes for Arc Welding and Cutting — AWS (2009)
- ISO 6848 — Arc welding and cutting, non-consumable tungsten electrodes (WC20) — ISO (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Tungsten) — ASM International (1990)
- Tungsten electrode product data (WC20 ceriated) — Plansee / Wolfram Industrie (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.