Lincoln Electric Innershield® NR®-232-H is a heavy-duty self-shielded flux-cored wire (FCAW-S) designed for high-deposition structural fabrication on 3/16" and heavier carbon steel. It carries the AWS A5.20 E71T-8-H16 classification and meets AWS D1.8 seismic supplement lot waiver requirements — making it the specified wire for structural steel fabrication in seismic zones across the US. This listing is the 0.072" (1.8 mm) diameter, 25 lb steel spool (ED036678).
NR-232 operates self-shielded (no gas cylinder required), produces a heavy fast-freezing slag for out-of-position puddle control, and delivers a penetrating arc for multi-pass structural groove and fillet welds. WeldingMart is an authorized Lincoln Electric distributor. View the NR-232-H family hub for all diameters, or browse all welding wire.
| Part Number | ED036678 |
|---|---|
| AWS Classification | AWS A5.20 / A5.20M E71T-8-H16; AWS A5.36 E71T8-A2-CS3-H16 |
| Wire Type | Self-Shielded Flux-Cored (FCAW-S) — no shielding gas required |
| Wire Diameter | 0.072 in (1.8 mm) |
| Spool Weight | 25 lb steel spool |
| Base Metal | Carbon steel, 3/16" (4.8 mm) and heavier; single or multi-pass |
| Polarity | DCEN (DC Electrode Negative / DC−) |
| Shielding Gas | None — self-shielded |
| Welding Positions | All positions (flat, horizontal, vertical-up, overhead) |
| Diffusible Hydrogen | ≤16 mL/100g deposited weld metal (H16 designator) |
| Tensile Strength (typical) | 575–615 MPa (83–89 ksi) |
| Yield Strength (typical) | 460–520 MPa (66–75 ksi) |
| Elongation | 25–31% |
| Charpy V-Notch (typical) | 47–75 J (35–55 ft·lbf) at −29°C (−20°F) |
| Seismic Compliance | AWS D1.8 Structural Welding Code — Seismic Supplement (lot waiver) |
| Additional Conformances | ASME SFA-A5.20, ABS 3YSA, LR 3YS H15, DNV III YMS H15, MIL-71T-8AS (.072" only) |
Source: Lincoln Electric Innershield NR-232 product page
- Seismic structural fabrication: NR-232 is the go-to self-shielded wire for high-rise building frames, connection plates, and moment frames in Seismic Design Category C and higher zones. AWS D1.8 lot waiver documentation supports pre-qualified Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) on seismic-critical connections.
- Heavy structural steel: High-deposition rates and a penetrating arc make NR-232 efficient on multi-pass groove welds in A36, A572, and A588 structural members — columns, beams, stiffeners, and shear tabs.
- Shipbuilding and barge construction: ABS and DNV/GL approvals support use on marine structural applications. The self-shielded format eliminates gas handling on open-deck ship construction.
- Field erection and iron work: No gas cylinder requirement makes NR-232 the preferred wire for ironworkers erecting structural steel on job sites. Operates well outdoors and in windy conditions.
- General plate fabrication: Machinery bases, hoppers, tanks, racks, scaffolding, and heavy equipment components where plate is 3/16" and heavier.
- Military and defense: MIL-71T-8AS qualification for the .068" and .072" diameters supports defense procurement on applicable fabrication programs.
NR-232-H requires DCEN (DC Electrode Negative / DC−) polarity. Set your machine to electrode-negative before welding.
No shielding gas. NR-232 is self-shielded — connecting shielding gas will degrade weld properties. The wire operates by producing its own gas shield via the flux core plus a heavy slag blanket for puddle support.
Electrical stick-out (ESO): 3/4" to 1" (19–25 mm). Maintaining proper ESO is critical for arc stability and slag system performance with NR-232. Too short an ESO produces an erratic arc; too long increases voltage drop and weld porosity risk.
Travel technique: Drag (pull) technique. For vertical-up welding, keep the electrode pointed down-hill (5–20° uphill lead angle) to prevent the slag from running ahead of the arc. Do not hold toes like 7018 rod — NR-232 requires faster travel speed along the toes.
Interpass temperature: Monitor interpass temperature on multi-pass joints per your WPS. NR-232 seismic lot qualification includes CTOD and CVN data available from Lincoln Electric for code-specified requirements.
| .068" (1.7 mm) | Most common NR-232 diameter. Available in 25 lb spool format. MIL-71T-8AS qualified. |
|---|---|
| .072" (1.8 mm) — this listing | Slightly larger than .068"; higher deposition rate for heavy structural multi-pass applications. ED036678 (25 lb spool). MIL-71T-8AS qualified. |
| 5/64" (2.0 mm) | Larger diameter for heavy plate flat and horizontal welding. |
Note: NR-232 is not available in .030" or .035" diameters — it is engineered for structural-grade applications on heavy plate. For thin-gauge work, use Innershield NR-211-MP .035".
- What does AWS D1.8 seismic lot waiver mean for NR-232?
- It means Lincoln has qualified NR-232 through the AWS D1.8 test program for demand-critical seismic welds, eliminating the need for per-lot CVN testing by the fabricator. Simplifies WPS qualification for seismic moment frames and connection plates.
- What is the minimum plate thickness for NR-232?
- 3/16" (4.8 mm). It is not suitable for thin gauge. For material under 3/16", use Innershield NR-211-MP .035".
- Does NR-232 require shielding gas?
- No — it is self-shielded (FCAW-S). Never connect shielding gas when running NR-232.
- What is the difference between NR-232 and NR-232-H?
- Same product line. The "-H" indicates H16 diffusible hydrogen control (≤16 mL/100g) is included in the conformance. All NR-232 from Lincoln Electric meets H16.
- Can I use NR-232 with a standard MIG machine?
- The .072" diameter requires 200–450A capability and knurled/serrated drive rolls. Standard 140–175A hobby machines cannot run this wire. Set polarity to DCEN.
- How do I weld vertical-up with NR-232?
- Point slightly downward (5–20° uphill lead), 3/4"–1" ESO, slight weave with wire center-to-bottom of puddle. Maximum weave width 5/8"–3/4". Do not hold toes like 7018 rod.
Browse sibling wire PDPs: Innershield NR-232-H Family Hub — all diameters | Innershield NR-211-MP .035" (thin-gauge FCAW-S) | All Welding Wire
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