Find welding electrode types for hard steels such as hardfacing and low hydrogen for strong, wear-resistant welds that meet industry standards.
Hardened steel is a material that is widely used in heavy industry, from bridge construction, mining, to heavy equipment.
Its primary properties are high tensile strength and wear resistance, but this also makes it difficult to weld with conventional welding wire. Weld joints often crack due to the high carbon content and brittle nature of the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ).
To overcome these challenges, a special type of hard steel welding wire is needed that is able to suppress the potential for cracking, provide high toughness, and add a wear-resistant layer.
Hardened Steel Welding Challenges and Solutions
According to data from the American Welding Society (AWS), steel with a carbon content above 0.3% is highly susceptible to hydrogen cracking. This is exacerbated if the welding process does not use low-hydrogen-containing wire.
Furthermore, in the mining and heavy equipment industries, hardened steel components frequently experience friction and repeated stress. The solution is hardfacing, a process of coating with special welding wire to increase wear resistance and extend the service life.
Recommended Welding Wire Types for Hard Steel
Low Hydrogen Electrodes (LB-52 Series)
Low hydrogen electrodes are very effective for welding hard steel with high carbon content. Products such as KOBELCO LB-52, LB-52U, and LB-52-18 is proven to produce strong, crack-free joints and meets the international standards AWS A5.1 E7016/E7018.
This welding electrode is widely used in pressure pipes, steel structures, and construction projects that require welding results with high toughness.
Hardfacing Welding Wire (HF Series)
To increase the wear resistance of hardened steel, hardfacing welding wire is the main choice. Products such as HF-350, HF-500, and HF-600 is used to coat the surface of excavator buckets, crushers, rollers, and components that frequently rub against each other.
The advantage of hardfacing is that it can increase the service life of components by up to 2–3 times, reduce downtime, and reduce maintenance costs.
How to Choose the Best Welding Wire for Hard Steel
Analysis of Carbon Content and Steel Strength
Each hardened steel has a different carbon content. For high-tensile steels, low-hydrogen electrodes are the safest choice to prevent cracking.
Adapting to Industrial Applications
Construction and bridges → LB-52 series for structural joints.
Mining and heavy equipment → HF series for hardfacing of wear surfaces.
Repair of hardened steel components → combination of low hydrogen + hardfacing.
Ensuring Certification and Standards
Use products that meet AWS, JIS, or ASME standards. For example, the KOBELCO LB-52 has been tested to international standards, ensuring reliable weld quality.
KOBELCO Product Recommendations for Hardened Steel
As the official manufacturer of KOBELCO welding wire in Indonesia, PT Intan Pertiwi Industri recommends:
LB-52 – low hydrogen electrode for high tensile strength hardened steel.
LB-52U – flagship version with more stable arc in all positions.
HF-350 – hardfacing for medium wear resistance.
HF-500 – hardfacing with high wear resistance.
HF-600 – premium hardfacing for extreme applications.
With these products, the quality of welding results for hard steel will be more guaranteed, efficient, and in accordance with international industry standards.
Conclusions and Technical Recommendations
Welding hardened steel requires proper welding wire selection. For structural joints, low-hydrogen electrodes such as the LB-52 series are the preferred choice. For wear-resistant applications, the HF series hardfacing is the best solution.
By choosing official products from KOBELCO produced by PT Intan Pertiwi Industri, you can ensure strong, durable, and maintenance-free welding results.
FAQ about Types of Welding Wire for Hard Steel
1. What types of welding wire are suitable for hard steel?
The types of welding wire commonly used for hard steel are low hydrogen electrodes (e.g. KOBELCO LB-52 series) and hardfacing welding wire (HF series) to increase wear resistance.
2. Why are low-hydrogen electrodes important for hardened steel?
Low-hydrogen electrodes are used because they can reduce the risk of hydrogen cracking in high-carbon steel. This makes the weld joint stronger and safer.
3. When should you use hardfacing welding wire on hard steel?
Hardfacing welding wire is used when hard steel components experience friction or wear, such as on excavator buckets, crushers, or rollers. Hardfacing adds a hard layer, extending the life of the component.
4. How to choose the best welding wire for hard steel?
The selection is made by analyzing the carbon content, adjusting the industrial application, and ensuring certification standards such as AWS, JIS, or ASME.
5. What are KOBELCO's product recommendations for welding hardened steel?
PT Intan Pertiwi Industri recommends the LB-52 series (low hydrogen electrodes) for structural joints and the HF series (HF-350, HF-500, HF-600) for hardfacing needs.
