Aluminum welding alloys with improved performance

An aluminum welding alloy comprising:

• about 2.4% to 4.7%, by weight, magnesium;
• about 0.25% or less, by weight, zinc;
• about 0.4% or less, silicon;
• about 0.7% or less, iron;
• about 0.4% or less, copper;
• about 0.05% to about 0.20% chromium;
• about 0.2% or less, titanium;
• about 0.01% to about 0.1%, by weight, calcium and/or about 0.01% to about 1.5%, by weight, strontium as one or more surface active elements;
• optionally about 0.01 to about 1.5%, by weight, of one or more arc stabilizer elements;
• and
• the balance is aluminum;
• and
• wherein the aluminum welding alloy is substantially free of zirconium and exhibits a welding efficiency of about 82% or greater.