AWS A5.28 (wire), A5.5 (electrode), A5.29 (flux-cored) · Creep-resisting Cr-Mo — electrode, wire and flux-cored

2.25Cr-1Mo Creep-Resisting Consumables (B3)

Q: What is ER90S-B3 used for?

It is the solid wire for welding 2.25 % chromium, 1 % molybdenum creep-resisting steels — SA-387 Grade 22, A335 Grade P22, T22 and similar materials used in high-temperature and hydroprocessing service. The covered electrode equivalent is E9018-B3 and the flux-cored is E91T1-B3M.

Q: When is P22 used instead of P11?

Where the operating temperature is higher than P11 can sustain, and where high-temperature hydrogen attack is a concern. In hydroprocessing service, atomic hydrogen reacts with carbides in steel and fissures it at the grain boundaries; chromium stabilises those carbides, and the governing Nelson curves push designers to 2.25Cr as hydrogen partial pressure and temperature rise. The weld metal must match the parent on both counts.

Q: Does a B3 weld need post-weld heat treatment?

Yes, and more demandingly than B2. As-deposited Cr-Mo weld metal is hard and brittle, and hardenability is greater at 2.25Cr than at 1.25Cr. Every published property for these consumables is a post-PWHT figure, typically after one hour at 690 °C, and ESAB notes stress relief at 600–700 °C normally follows TIG welding. The PWHT record is the evidence of the joint's properties.

Q: Why do refinery specifications limit the Bruscato factor on 2.25Cr-1Mo welds?

Because susceptibility to temper embrittlement rises with alloy content. Tramp elements — phosphorus, tin, antimony, arsenic — segregate to grain boundaries during long exposure between roughly 350 and 550 °C, and the metal loses toughness with no visible change. At 2.25Cr the risk is higher than at 1.25Cr, so a Bruscato factor or X-bar limit is routinely imposed as a procurement requirement. ESAB guarantees X-bar < 15 on OK Tigrod 13.17.

Q: What is the difference between B3 and Grade 91 consumables?

Grade 91 is a 9Cr-1Mo-V creep-strength-enhanced ferritic steel, welded with ER90S-B91 and equivalent electrodes, used above the range B3 covers. It is markedly less forgiving: its properties depend on a narrow normalising and tempering window, and an incorrect PWHT destroys the creep strength the alloy was specified for. Moving from B3 to Grade 91 is a change of discipline, not just a higher alloy number.

Q: Can B3 flux-cored wire be run on CO₂?

Not Dual Shield CrMo2. It is classified E91T1-B3M and T CrMo2 P M 2 H5 — the M denotes an argon-CO₂ mix — and ESAB specifies M21. OK Autrod 13.17 is likewise specified for M13 or M21. A site running pure CO₂ for carbon steel work cannot put these wires on the same gas.

Q: Which B3 consumable has the best low-temperature toughness?

OK Tigrod 13.17, by a wide margin: 150 J at −40 °C after PWHT, against 65 J at −20 °C for Dual Shield CrMo2 and 47 J at −40 °C for OK Autrod 13.17. Where a procedure sets a sub-zero impact requirement, the difference between grades within the same classification is large enough to decide the selection.

Q: Who supplies P22 and 2.25Cr-1Mo welding consumables in Abu Dhabi?

POFIS supplies the ESAB OK, Autrod, Tigrod and Dual Shield Cr-Mo ranges from Abu Dhabi across the UAE and the wider GCC, as an ESAB Authorized Distributor and Service Centre, approved ADNOC vendor and ISO 9001 certified supplier. Send the parent grade, the PWHT condition and any Bruscato or X-bar limit and we will confirm the consumable and the batch certificate before quoting. Email weldiv@pofis.ae.

B3 grade consumables deposit a 2.25 % chromium, 1 % molybdenum creep-resisting weld metal for welding P22, SA-387 Grade 22 and T22 pressure vessel and piping steels in high-temperature and hydrogen service, classified ER90S-B3 as solid wire, E9018-B3 as a covered electrode and E91T1-B3M as flux-cored, welded with preheat and finished with a post-weld heat treatment typically at 690 °C.

2.25 % Cr – 1 % Mo creep-resisting steel: P22, SA-387 Gr 22, T22
Creep-resisting Cr-Mo — electrode, wire and flux-cored
EN ISO 21952-B / EN ISO 3580-A / EN ISO 17634-A
4 ESAB grades

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Price on request. POFIS is an ESAB Authorized Distributor & Service Centre in Abu Dhabi — quotations include confirmed lead time and delivery terms.

The designation

What ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 means

ER / E: ER is a bare wire or rod under AWS A5.28; E is a covered electrode under A5.5 or a flux-cored wire under A5.29. The B3 suffix denotes the same alloy in each form.
90 / 9018: Minimum tensile strength of the deposited weld metal, 90,000 psi or 620 MPa — a step above the 80 ksi of a B2 deposit. The 18 in E9018 is the low-hydrogen basic coating designator.
B: The chromium-molybdenum creep-resisting family: alloys designed to hold strength under sustained load at elevated temperature over a design life measured in decades.
3: Nominally 2.25 % chromium and 1 % molybdenum — the step above B2. This is the alloy level at which the material is used for high-temperature hydrogen service, where the chromium content governs resistance to hydrogen attack.
M21: On flux-cored grades, the shielding gas the wire is classified for. Dual Shield CrMo2 is designed for an argon-CO₂ mix and is not classified for pure CO₂.

Reading the ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 designation, left to right.

How it behaves

ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 in practice

Why 2.25Cr rather than 1.25Cr

Two reasons, and they often apply together. The first is creep strength: more chromium and molybdenum means the material holds its properties at a higher operating temperature, so P22 is used where P11 would be working too hard. The second is high-temperature hydrogen attack — in hydroprocessing service, atomic hydrogen diffuses into steel and reacts with carbides, forming methane at grain boundaries and fissuring the metal. Chromium stabilises those carbides, and the Nelson curves that govern this service push designers to 2.25Cr where hydrogen partial pressure and temperature are high. The weld metal has to match, because a B2 deposit in a P22 joint is the weakest link in both respects.

Post-weld heat treatment, again, is not optional

As with B2, every published mechanical property for these consumables is post-PWHT — typically one hour at 690 °C — and as-deposited Cr-Mo weld metal is hard and brittle. At 2.25Cr the hardenability is greater than at 1.25Cr, which makes preheat, interpass control and the PWHT more demanding rather than less. The heat treatment record is the evidence the joint has the properties claimed for it.

Temper embrittlement is a bigger issue at 2.25Cr

The susceptibility of Cr-Mo weld metal to temper embrittlement — tramp elements segregating to grain boundaries during long exposure between roughly 350 and 550 °C — increases with alloy content, which is precisely why refinery specifications for 2.25Cr-1Mo equipment routinely impose a Bruscato factor limit and an X-bar limit on the weld metal. ESAB guarantees X-bar < 15 on OK Tigrod 13.17. Where a client specification names a limit, it is a procurement requirement and not a preference, and it has to be confirmed against the batch certificate.

The toughness trade

Higher alloy content buys creep strength and hydrogen resistance at some cost in toughness, and the published figures show it. OK Tigrod 13.17 gives a notably good 150 J at −40 °C after PWHT, but OK Autrod 13.17 gives 47 J at the same temperature and Dual Shield CrMo2 65 J at −20 °C. Where a procedure sets a low-temperature impact requirement — as hydrotest and upset-condition cases sometimes do — check it against the specific grade rather than assuming the family will pass.

Where B3 is still not enough

Above the range B3 covers, the modern answer is Grade 91 — a 9Cr-1Mo-V creep-strength-enhanced ferritic steel welded with ER90S-B91 and equivalent electrodes, which ESAB supplies as OK Tigrod 13.38 among others. Grade 91 is markedly less forgiving than B3: its properties depend on a narrow normalising and tempering window, and getting the PWHT wrong destroys the creep strength the alloy was chosen for. It is a different discipline, not simply a higher number.

What POFIS supplies

ESAB ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 grades

Every grade below carries the ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 classification, which is why a WPS naming ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 can be satisfied by any of them. They are not interchangeable in practice — the differences in current type, hydrogen level and impact toughness are what decide which one belongs on your job. Figures are the manufacturer's typical as-welded values.

**ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 grades supplied by POFIS** — typical as-welded properties. Blank cells are values the manufacturer does not publish for that grade, not zeros.
Grade	Classification	Yield	Tensile	Elong.	Impact (lowest published)
OK 76.28 POFIS recommends	E9018-B3 (AWS A5.5) E CrMo2 B 4 2 H5 (EN ISO 3580-A)	630 MPa (PWHT 1 h / 690 °C)	720 MPa (PWHT)	21 %	130 J at 20 °C (PWHT)
OK Tigrod 13.17	ER90S-B3 (AWS A5.28) W 62 2C1M (EN ISO 21952-B)	570 MPa (PWHT 1 h / 690 °C)	690 MPa (PWHT)	27 %	150 J at −40 °C (PWHT)
Dual Shield CrMo2	E91T1-B3M (AWS A5.29) T CrMo2 P M 2 H5 (EN ISO 17634-A)	625 MPa (PWHT 1 h / 690 °C)	710 MPa (PWHT)	20 %	65 J at −20 °C (PWHT)
OK Autrod 13.17	ER90S-B3 (AWS A5.28) G 62 2C1M (EN ISO 21952-B)	590 MPa (PWHT 1 h / 690 °C)	720 MPa (PWHT)	22 %	47 J at −40 °C (PWHT)

OK 76.28 E9018-B3 (AWS A5.5)

The basic DC electrode for 2.25Cr-1Mo, and the only grade here going to 6.0 mm. Under 5 ml/100 g diffusible hydrogen, 130 J at room temperature after PWHT. Figures after 1 h at 690 °C.

Diameters: 2.5 mm, 3.2 mm, 4.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 6.0 mm
Alloy type: Low alloyed — 2.2 % Cr, 1.1 % Mo
Type: Basic covered electrode (SMAW)
Source: ESAB Filler Metal Handbook, page 2-24

OK Tigrod 13.17 ER90S-B3 (AWS A5.28)

Guaranteed Bruscato factor X-bar < 15, and by far the best low-temperature toughness here at 150 J at −40 °C after PWHT. ESAB notes stress relief at 600–700 °C normally follows. The grade for refinery work with a residual element limit.

Alloy type: Low alloyed steel — 2.5 % Cr, 1 % Mo
Type: TIG rod (GTAW), shielding I1
Source: ESAB Filler Metal Handbook, page 2-66

Dual Shield CrMo2 E91T1-B3M (AWS A5.29)

All-positional rutile low-hydrogen flux-cored for deposition rate on heavy wall, 625 MPa yield and 65 J at −20 °C after PWHT. M21 argon-CO₂ only — not classified for pure CO₂.

Diameters: 1.2 mm
Alloy type: 2Cr 1Mo
Type: Rutile flux-cored, all-positional, M21 only
Source: ESAB Filler Metal Handbook, page 2-89

OK Autrod 13.17 ER90S-B3 (AWS A5.28)

Copper-coated solid wire for mechanised MIG on SA-387 Gr 22 and A335 P22, shielded M13 or M21. Note the −40 °C impact value of 47 J, well below the TIG rod — check it against the procedure.

Diameters: 1.2 mm
Alloy type: Low alloyed — 2.5 % Cr, 1.1 % Mo
Type: Solid MIG wire (GMAW), shielding M13 / M21
Source: ESAB Filler Metal Handbook, page 2-53

Diameters are listed from the manufacturer's deposition data. Ordering part numbers and pack sizes are confirmed with your quotation — send the grade and diameters you need to weldiv@pofis.ae.

Specifying

Which ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 grade to specify

For stick welding

OK 76.28 is the basic DC electrode for 2.25Cr-1Mo, 2.5 mm to 6.0 mm — the widest diameter range here and the only grade going to 6.0 mm — with under 5 ml/100 g diffusible hydrogen. After one hour at 690 °C it gives 630 MPa yield, 720 MPa tensile and 130 J at room temperature.

For TIG roots, and the cleanest deposit

OK Tigrod 13.17 carries a guaranteed Bruscato factor X-bar < 15 under pure argon, and gives by far the best low-temperature toughness on this page at 150 J at −40 °C after PWHT, with 570 MPa yield. ESAB notes that welding is usually followed by stress relief at 600–700 °C. For refinery work with a residual element limit, this is the grade to start from.

For mechanised MIG

OK Autrod 13.17 is the copper-coated solid wire for SA-387 Grade 22 and A335 Grade P22, shielded under M13 or M21. After one hour at 690 °C it gives 590 MPa yield and 720 MPa tensile. Note its −40 °C impact value of 47 J — substantially below the TIG rod — and check it against the procedure before committing.

For deposition rate on heavy wall

Dual Shield CrMo2 is the all-positional rutile low-hydrogen flux-cored wire for 2.25Cr-1Mo, M21 only. After one hour at 690 °C it gives 625 MPa yield, 710 MPa tensile, 130 J at room temperature and 65 J at −20 °C. On thick-wall reactor and exchanger seams it will substantially outpace stick welding while still welding out of position.

Confirm the shielding gas first

Dual Shield CrMo2 is classified M21 and not for pure CO₂, and OK Autrod 13.17 is specified for M13 or M21. A site running CO₂ for its carbon steel work cannot simply put these wires on the same gas. Confirm the supply with the enquiry rather than after delivery.

Storage & handling

Storing and handling ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 consumables

Storage and re-drying

OK 76.28 is basic coated and sits in ESAB's 350 °C re-drying group, two hours. On pressure equipment the consumable control regime — storage humidity, oven logs, re-drying records against batch — is an audit point in its own right. Keep the records with the WPS and the material certificates.

Keep the certificate with the joint

Where a specification imposes a Bruscato or X-bar limit, the guarantee is on the batch and the evidence is the certificate. Record which batch went into which joint. On hydroprocessing equipment this traceability is routinely requested years later, when an inspection raises a question about embrittlement.

Frequently asked

ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 — common questions

What is ER90S-B3 used for?

It is the solid wire for welding 2.25 % chromium, 1 % molybdenum creep-resisting steels — SA-387 Grade 22, A335 Grade P22, T22 and similar materials used in high-temperature and hydroprocessing service. The covered electrode equivalent is E9018-B3 and the flux-cored is E91T1-B3M.

When is P22 used instead of P11?

Where the operating temperature is higher than P11 can sustain, and where high-temperature hydrogen attack is a concern. In hydroprocessing service, atomic hydrogen reacts with carbides in steel and fissures it at the grain boundaries; chromium stabilises those carbides, and the governing Nelson curves push designers to 2.25Cr as hydrogen partial pressure and temperature rise. The weld metal must match the parent on both counts.

Does a B3 weld need post-weld heat treatment?

Yes, and more demandingly than B2. As-deposited Cr-Mo weld metal is hard and brittle, and hardenability is greater at 2.25Cr than at 1.25Cr. Every published property for these consumables is a post-PWHT figure, typically after one hour at 690 °C, and ESAB notes stress relief at 600–700 °C normally follows TIG welding. The PWHT record is the evidence of the joint's properties.

Why do refinery specifications limit the Bruscato factor on 2.25Cr-1Mo welds?

Because susceptibility to temper embrittlement rises with alloy content. Tramp elements — phosphorus, tin, antimony, arsenic — segregate to grain boundaries during long exposure between roughly 350 and 550 °C, and the metal loses toughness with no visible change. At 2.25Cr the risk is higher than at 1.25Cr, so a Bruscato factor or X-bar limit is routinely imposed as a procurement requirement. ESAB guarantees X-bar < 15 on OK Tigrod 13.17.

What is the difference between B3 and Grade 91 consumables?

Grade 91 is a 9Cr-1Mo-V creep-strength-enhanced ferritic steel, welded with ER90S-B91 and equivalent electrodes, used above the range B3 covers. It is markedly less forgiving: its properties depend on a narrow normalising and tempering window, and an incorrect PWHT destroys the creep strength the alloy was specified for. Moving from B3 to Grade 91 is a change of discipline, not just a higher alloy number.

Can B3 flux-cored wire be run on CO₂?

Not Dual Shield CrMo2. It is classified E91T1-B3M and T CrMo2 P M 2 H5 — the M denotes an argon-CO₂ mix — and ESAB specifies M21. OK Autrod 13.17 is likewise specified for M13 or M21. A site running pure CO₂ for carbon steel work cannot put these wires on the same gas.

Which B3 consumable has the best low-temperature toughness?

OK Tigrod 13.17, by a wide margin: 150 J at −40 °C after PWHT, against 65 J at −20 °C for Dual Shield CrMo2 and 47 J at −40 °C for OK Autrod 13.17. Where a procedure sets a sub-zero impact requirement, the difference between grades within the same classification is large enough to decide the selection.

Who supplies P22 and 2.25Cr-1Mo welding consumables in Abu Dhabi?

POFIS supplies the ESAB OK, Autrod, Tigrod and Dual Shield Cr-Mo ranges from Abu Dhabi across the UAE and the wider GCC, as an ESAB Authorized Distributor and Service Centre, approved ADNOC vendor and ISO 9001 certified supplier. Send the parent grade, the PWHT condition and any Bruscato or X-bar limit and we will confirm the consumable and the batch certificate before quoting. Email weldiv@pofis.ae.

Procurement & supply

Buying the ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 consumables through POFIS

The ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 consumables is supplied from Abu Dhabi by Perfect Oilfield & Industrial Supply LLC as an ESAB Authorized Distributor and Service Centre. The information below covers what procurement and QA/QC departments normally need before raising a purchase order.

Lead time

Stock items dispatch from Abu Dhabi within 24–48 hours. Indent items are quoted with a confirmed lead time at the time of offer.

Approved vendor status

POFIS is an approved ADNOC vendor and is listed on the approved vendor lists (AVL) of major operators and EPC contractors across the GCC. We can complete supplier registration and prequalification documentation on request.

Payment terms

Standard credit terms are available to registered corporate accounts. LPO, LC and advance payment are all accepted.

Delivery terms

Delivery across the UAE and the wider GCC. Quotations can be issued on EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP terms to suit your project.

Warranty

Full manufacturer warranty, honoured locally. As an ESAB Authorized Service Centre we carry out warranty work and repairs in Abu Dhabi rather than returning equipment abroad.

Service & spares

In-UAE service, commissioning, operator training and spare parts backing for every machine we supply.

ISO 9001 Certified
Approved ADNOC Vendor
ESAB Authorized Distributor & Service Centre

Price on request

Request a quotation for the ER90S-B3 / E9018-B3 filler metals

Send the form and the POFIS welding division replies with pricing, confirmed lead time, delivery terms and availability. Tell us who you are and what the job is, so the reply can be specific to it rather than a catalogue price list.

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