SFA-5.3/SFA-5.3M: Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Electrodes for SMAW

Aluminum and aluminum alloy electrodes produced to this specification are used for SMAW. As with the electrodes classified in SFA-5.1, the letter “E” in the designation stands for electrodes. However, the numbers in the designation are based on the Aluminum Association’s [8] alloy identification of the alloy type rather than tensile strength and usability. Aluminum and aluminum alloy type SMAW has largely been replaced with gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Therefore, electrodes manufactured to this specification will see little, if any, use for ASME pressure vessel or component fabrication.