Tungsten Alloy EWP (WP)
AISI/SAE AWS A5.12 EWP · GB GB/T 4189 WP · ISO 6848 WP
EWP (AWS A5.12 EWP, GB/T 4189 WP, green band) is a pure unalloyed sintered tungsten non-consumable GTAW electrode, supplied ground, chemically cleaned, black or recrystallised.
Reference datasheet — EWP (WP) 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
EWP (WP) tempers and conditions
EWP (WP) is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. GF is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recrystallised | Condition of the electrode zone heated above ~1300–1500 °C in service or by anneal: coarse equiaxed grains, much lower strength and near-zero room-temperature ductility (tip splitting). | 420 | 500 | 0.5 | 35 HRC | 32 % IACS |
As-swaged black (unground) rod | Cheapest form, oxide/lubricant film left on the surface; used for heavy AC work or where the electrode is dressed before use. | 720 | 1,050 | 2 | 45 HRC | 30 % IACS |
GFDefault Ground (polished) finish rod, as-swaged/drawn condition | Standard stocked condition: centreless-ground bright surface for best current transfer and clean arc starts; keeps the worked (unrecrystallised) microstructure. | 750 | 1,100 | 2 | 45 HRC | 31 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EWP (WP) is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CL | Chemically cleaned (etched) finish rod | Surface finish |
What is EWP (WP)?
EWP (AWS A5.12 EWP, GB/T 4189 WP, green band) is a pure unalloyed sintered tungsten non-consumable GTAW electrode, supplied ground, chemically cleaned, black or recrystallised. It is used for AC welding of aluminium and magnesium, where the balled tip that forms on AC gives acceptable arc stability at the lowest electrode cost, with 170 W/m·K conductivity, 31% IACS, 750 MPa yield and 1100 MPa tensile. Electron emission is poorer than thoriated or rare-earth types, DC arc starting and current capacity are limited, and the tip erodes quickly — use EWLa-2, EWCe-2 or EWTh-2 for DC electrode-negative work on steel. EWP (WP) has a density of 19.25 g/cm³ (0.695 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,422°C (6,192 °F). EWP (WP) has a yield strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — weaker than 53% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
What is EWP (WP) used for?
- AC TIG welding of aluminum
- Magnesium welding
- General-purpose GTAW
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of tungsten alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 83% of tungsten alloy grades
EWP (WP) properties
Typical room-temperature values for EWP (WP)-GF; bars are the position among tungsten alloy grades.
Physical3
EWP (WP) has a density of 19.25 g/cm³ (0.695 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 3,422°C (6,192 °F).
Mechanical16
EWP (WP) has a yield strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — weaker than 53% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
Thermal5
EWP (WP) is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °F). It conducts heat at 170 W/m·K (98.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EWP (WP) conducts electricity at 31 % IACS, better than 83% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 71% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EWP (WP) takes about 380 MJ of energy and emits 25 kg of CO₂ — less than 62% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
EWP (WP)'s machinability is not recommended (10/100, better than 52% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); 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. EWP (WP) is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EWP (WP)
Is EWP (WP) easy to machine?
Effectively non-machinable by turning; shape by diamond/SiC wheel grinding, EDM or laser, always grinding longitudinally on a dedicated wheel with dust extraction.
Can EWP (WP) be welded?
Not a structural weld material — it is the non-consumable electrode; joining W itself requires EB or diffusion bonding because fusion causes recrystallisation embrittlement.
Can EWP (WP) be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing, sintering and hot swaging/drawing above ~1200 °C; no cold forming — rods snap rather than bend at room temperature.
EWP (WP) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other elements, totalimpurities per AWS A5.12 / ISO 6848 for WP | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Wno intentional oxide additions (green colour code) | ≥ 99.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on EWP (WP)?
Supplied centreless-ground or chemically cleaned; ball the tip on AC for aluminium/magnesium and re-dress the tip rather than plating or coating.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Tungsten Alloy EWP (WP) in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- AWS A5.12 EWP
- ISO
- 6848 WP
- GB (China)
- GB/T 4189 WP
How much does EWP (WP) cost?
EWP (WP) 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.
EWP (WP) — frequently asked
What is EWP (WP) used for?
EWP (WP) is typically used for AC TIG welding of aluminum, magnesium welding and general-purpose GTAW. In short: lowest-cost TIG electrode; green-band AC aluminium electrode; no radioactive thorium.
What is the yield strength of EWP (WP)?
EWP (WP) has a typical yield strength of 750 MPa (109 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — weaker than 53% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is EWP (WP) easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, better than 52% of tungsten alloy grades). Effectively non-machinable by turning; shape by diamond/SiC wheel grinding, EDM or laser, always grinding longitudinally on a dedicated wheel with dust extraction.
Can EWP (WP) be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not a structural weld material — it is the non-consumable electrode; joining W itself requires EB or diffusion bonding because fusion causes recrystallisation embrittlement.
What surface finishes work on EWP (WP)?
Supplied centreless-ground or chemically cleaned; ball the tip on AC for aluminium/magnesium and re-dress the tip rather than plating or coating.
Can EWP (WP) be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing, sintering and hot swaging/drawing above ~1200 °C; no cold forming — rods snap rather than bend at room temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of EWP (WP)?
EWP (WP) is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between EWP (WP)-GF and EWP (WP)-RX?
GF is the default condition — standard stocked condition: centreless-ground bright surface for best current transfer and clean arc starts; keeps the worked (unrecrystallised) microstructure. RX: condition of the electrode zone heated above ~1300–1500 °C in service or by anneal: coarse equiaxed grains, much lower strength and near-zero room-temperature ductility (tip splitting). Yield strength is 750 MPa in GF versus 420 MPa in RX.
How much does EWP (WP) cost?
EWP (WP) 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 A5.12M/A5.12 Specification for Tungsten and Oxide Dispersed Tungsten Electrodes for Arc Welding and Cutting — AWS (2009)
- ISO 6848 Arc welding and cutting — Nonconsumable tungsten electrodes — Classification — ISO (2015)
- GB/T 4187 — SAC/ (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (refractory metals) — ASM International (1990)
- Tungsten — material properties and product data — Plansee SE (2023)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (thermophysical data for W) — CRC Press (2020)
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.