NATIONAL CERTIFIED PIPE WELDING BUREAU

WELDING PROCEDURE SPECIFICATION

NO. 23-3-1

FOR

GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING (GTAW)

OF

ALUMINUM PIPE, VALVES, FITTINGS AND FLANGES
USING ER4043 FILLER METAL























NCPWB

This document is the property of


(NCPWB Member Company Name)
This Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records
(PQRs) are issued by the NCPWB for adoption by its members. Reproduction or
use of this WPS and PQRs by anyone other than Members of the NCPWB is
prohibited
Base Metals (QW-403)
P-Number 23 Group No. N/A
to P-Number 23, Group No. N/A
Base Metal Thickness Range
Groove Welds: 1/16 to 0.75
Fillet welds: All

Minimum Outside Diameter
Groove Welds: All
Fillet Welds: All
Filler Metals and Electrodes (QW-404)
Root and Fill
Specification Number: SFA 5.10
AWS Classification: ER4043
F-number: 23
A-Number: None
Maximum Weld Metal Thickness:
Grooves: 0.75
Fillets: All
Maximum Bead thickness: 3/16, convex shape
Supplemental Filler Metal: N/A
Consumable Insert: Not Permitted
Pulsed Power Supply: Optional
Penetration Enhancing Flux: Not permitted
Other: Filler metal must be added during all welding.

Postweld Heat Treatment (QW-407)
Temperature: None
Max. Holding Time: N/A
Positions (QW-405)
Positions permitted: All
Progression when in Vertical: Uphill
Gas (QW-408)
Shielding Gas: Argon, 15 to 45 CFH
Backing Gas: None
Trailing Shield: None
Preheat (QW-406)
Minimum metal temp.: 50F
Interpass Temp.(Max): 250F
Preheat Maintenance: Not required
Electrical Characteristics (QW-409) and Related Matters
Weld Electrode or Filler Current Travel Speed Other
Layer Process Class Diameter Type Polarity Volts Amps Tungsten (ipm) Base metal
thickness
Root GTAW ER4043 3/32, 1/8 AC N/A N/A 80 to 110 1/8 3 to 8 <3/16
AC N/A N/A 90 to 170 1/8 3 to 8 3/16
Fill and
Fillet 1/8, 5/32 AC N/A N/A 125 to 275 5/32 3 to 8






Technique (QW-410)
Tungsten Size and Type: EWP or EWZr, 3/32 through 5/32 Initial Cleaning: Remove grease or oil with acetone, toluene,
Shielding Gas Cup Size: #6 to #12 (3/8 to 3/4 ID) MEK or paint thinner. Mechanically clean only after solvent
Single or Multiple Pass per Side: Either cleaning. Stainless steel fine wire brush immediately before
Single or Multiple electrodes: Single not use chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Contact-tube-to-work distance (stickout):N/A Interpass Cleaning: Stainless wire brush or file each pass.
Backgouging: Grinding or plasma arc followed by grinding Peening: Not permitted
Repair Method: Grinding. Backwelding is permitted. Other: Preheat to 150F if the base metal is over 1/4 thick is
Stringer or Weave Bead: Stringer to small weave recommended. Use of a balanced wave power supply is
Recommended. A slightly convex bead is preferred.

Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)

Member Company Name: ___________________________________________________________
WPS Number 23-3-1 Revision 3 Date issued: December 7, 2009
Welding Process: GTAW, Manual Supporting PQRs: 052301



Joints (QW-402)
Joint Design: Single or Double V, U or J grooves, Fillets, repairs, build-up and grooves on engineering
drawings or next page
Backing: Optional Backing or Retainer type: Aluminum
The undersigned contractor, a member of the National Certified Pipe welding Bureau, hereby adopts this jointly developed
procedure as its Company Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and certifies that this procedure has been qualified as shown on
the attached Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs).
Contractor:
By: Date: WPS 23-3-1
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Typical J oint Designs for Aluminum Piping Welds
Other J oint Designs shown on the Construction Drawings take precedence over these details.

End Preparation Details Fit-up Details













Nozzle and Branch Connection Welds






Socket and Slip-on Flange Welds







The following apply unless another size is shown on the engineering drawings:
T is the nominal wall thickness
X =the lesser of 1.4T or the hub thickness
Y =the lesser of 1.1T or the fitting thickness
1/16 to 3/32
1/32 in. Max.
30 to 40
1/16 to 3/32
3/8 Min. (this is
correct)
1/8 in Max
40 to 55
1/16 to 3/32
3/32
min
45 min
Seal Weld
X
X
1/16 min
1/16 min
Y
Y
Approximately
1/16 before
welding
Fitting
3/4 Nom.
1/16
Min.
0 to 3/32
3/16 to 1/4
Nozzle welds are only
permitted where the root
side can be backwelded
40 to 55
1/16 to 3/32
1/16 to 3/32
1/32 in. Max.
Backgrinding is required when using this groove design
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Reduced Section Tensile Tests X Rectangular Turned Full Section
Bend Tests X Transverse Face and Root Side Longitudinal Face and Root


Procedure Qualification Record
Identification of WPS followed during welding of test coupon: 23-3-1, preliminary, 8/8/05
Welding Process(es) used: GTAW, Manual Date test coupon was welded: 8/16/05
Base Metal Specification: SB-210, 6061-T6 to Base Metal Specification: SB-210, 6061-T6
P-Number:23 Group No: N/A to P-Number: 23 Group No: N/A Plate/Pipe Diameter: Plate
Base Metal Thickness(in.): 3/8 J oint Type: double V-groove welded from both sides F-Number: 23
Filler metal specification: SFA 5.10 AWS Classification: ER4043
A-Number: N/A Weld Deposit Thickness(es)(in.): 3/8 Maximum Pass Thickness: 1/8
Filler metal size: 1/8 Supplementary filler metal: N/A
Preheat temperature (F): 50 Interpass temperature (F) N/A Welding position/progression: 1G
Current Type and polarity: AC Travel speed (ipm): see below
Shielding gas composition, CFH: Argon, 30 Backing gas composition, CFH: None
Tungsten size/type: 1/8, EWP GMAW transfer mode: N/A
Postweld Heat treatment (F): None Postweld heat treatment time (hr.): N/A
Stringer/Weave bead: Both Oscillation: N/A
Single/Multi-pass: Multiple Single/Multi-electrode: Single
Other:
Weld Electrode or Filler Current Travel Speed Other
Layer Process Class Diameter Type Polarity Volts Current (a) (ipm)

Root GTAW ER4043 1/8 AC N/A N/A 100 to 115 5 to 7

Fill GTAW ER4043 1/8 AC N/A N/A 130 to 160 5 to 7
Specimen Width/Dia (in.) Thickness (in) Area (sq in.) Ultimate load (lb.) Ultimate Stress (psi) Failure Location
1 0.752 0.376 0.283 7,563 26,700 Base Metal
2 0.751 0.381 0.286 7,665 26,800 Base Metal


Type Results Type Results
Root Acceptable Root Acceptable
Face Acceptable Face Acceptable
Toughness Tests Charpy Specimen Size Test Temperature
Specimen Notch Location Ft. Lb. Lateral Expansion (mils) Percent Shear Drop Weight Break No Break
1
2
3
Fillet weld test macro examination: Fillet weld test leg sizes:
Weld deposit analysis:
Other tests:
Welders name: William J ones Stamp: K Welding Witnessed by: Robert Gilroy, Mid-Atlantic Constructors
Tests conducted by: Quality Services Laboratories, Inc. Laboratory test number: 01-287
We hereby certify that the statements in this record are correct and that the test welds were prepared, welded and tested in accordance with the
requirements of Section IX of the ASME Code.
National Certified Contractor:
Pipe Welding Bureau
By: Date:
by:
Chairman, Technical Committee NCPWB Form QW-483 PQR No. 052301
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