E7018 vs ER70S-6: 48% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
E7018 vs ER70S-6
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
E7018
The world's most widely used low-hydrogen SMAW (stick) welding electrode. Iron powder + calcium fluoride coating produces smooth, easy-to-control arc with minimal spatter and easy slag removal. Low hydrogen designation prevents hydrogen-induced cracking in structural joints. All-position welding (1 = flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead). AC or DCEP. Minimum 480 MPa tensile strength. Must be stored in heated ovens (250-300°F) to prevent moisture pickup. Used for structural steel, bridges, buildings, pressure vessels, and all code-compliant fabrication per AWS D1.1.
ER70S-6
K11140
The world's most popular solid MIG/TIG welding wire for carbon steel. High manganese (1.40-1.85%) and silicon (0.80-1.15%) content provides superior deoxidizing power — welds cleanly even on slightly rusty or oily steel. Copper-coated for smooth wire feeding. Produces X-ray quality porosity-free welds with excellent bead appearance. Used with CO2 or Ar/CO2 shielding gas. Minimum 480 MPa tensile strength. Used for general fabrication, structural steel, shipbuilding, pressure vessels, automotive, and construction. The go-to wire for every MIG welder.
| E7018 | ER70S-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | — | K11140 |
| Category | Welding | Welding |
| Standard | AWS A5.1 | AWS A5.18 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | E7018 | ER70S-6 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.15% | 0.06–0.15% | OK |
| Si | ≤ 0.75% | 0.8–1.15% | No overlap |
| Mn | ≤ 1.6% | 1.4–1.85% | Partial |
| P | ≤ 0.04% | ≤ 0.025% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | E7018 | ER70S-6 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | ≥ 480 | ≥ 480 | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 400 | ≥ 400 | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 22 | ≥ 22 | % |
Compatibility Assessment
E7018 and ER70S-6 have significantly different compositions (48% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is E7018 the same as ER70S-6?
E7018 and ER70S-6 have a 48% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace E7018 with ER70S-6?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (48% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between E7018 and ER70S-6?
The main differences are in the following elements: Si, Mn. E7018 is a Welding grade, while ER70S-6 is a Welding grade.
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.