TIG Tungsten Electrode Color Code Chart (AWS A5.12 / ISO 6848)
Each tungsten electrode type carries a colored band at the tip end. Learn the code once and you can sort a mixed box in seconds — and never melt a red electrode into an AC aluminium job again.
Order by type designation and standard. Confirm tip marking and packaging with your quotation.
| Color | Type | Added oxide | Current | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | WP (EWP) | None — pure W ≥ 99.5% | AC mainly | Aluminium & magnesium |
| Red | WT20 (EWTh-2) | ThO₂ 2% | DCEN | Steel & alloy, high current |
| Grey | WC20 (EWCe-2) | CeO₂ 2% | DCEN, low current | Thin sheet, precision DC |
| Blue | WL15 / WL20 (EWLa-1.5 / EWLa-2) | La₂O₃ 1.5–2% | DC & AC | General purpose |
| Brown | WZ8 (EWZr-1) | ZrO₂ 0.8% | AC & DC | High-current AC Al/Mg |
| White | WY20 (EWY) | Y₂O₃ 2% | DC mainly | Precision & critical work |
How the color code works in practice
The band is applied to the tip end of the electrode, on the side that will eventually be ground away. That is deliberate: when you grind a new tip, the color tells you the type until the very last grind, after which the pack label is the reference.
AWS vs ISO designations
The chart lists both naming systems because suppliers and drawings use them interchangeably: AWS A5.12 uses letter-plus-number classes such as EWTh-2, while ISO 6848 encodes the oxide and content, such as WT20 (tungsten + thorium oxide, 2%). Tongke electrodes carry type designations and tip colors per both standards.
Ordering by color code
You can order simply by color and size — “blue, 2.4 × 150 mm, 500 pcs” is a complete specification for us. Send your list and we will confirm the exact type designation in the quotation.