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GMAW · Stainless steel

ER316L

The molybdenum-bearing stainless filler used wherever chlorides or process acids would pit an ordinary 18-8 deposit, matched to the 316 and 316L base metals.

What the designation means

Point at any character to see what it claims. The classification is a sentence written in fields, not a product name.

  1. ERClassified as both an electrode and a hand fed filler rod.
  2. 316An austenitic chromium-nickel-molybdenum composition, with molybdenum improving resistance to pitting in chloride environments.
  3. LControlled low carbon content to limit carbide precipitation.

At a glance

Process
GMAW
Family
Stainless steel
Positions
All positions with short circuit or pulsed transfer; spray transfer is flat and horizontal only
Polarity
DCEP for wire feed welding; DCEN when used as a hand fed rod
Shielding
Argon with a small oxygen or carbon dioxide addition for spray, or a helium bearing tri-mix for short circuit
Minimum tensile
70ksi

Typical uses

  • Chemical and pharmaceutical process piping in 316 stainless
  • Marine and coastal equipment exposed to salt
  • Heat exchanger and vessel internals requiring pitting resistance

How it runs

  • Slightly more sluggish than the 308 family because of the molybdenum
  • Low carbon dioxide in the shielding gas protects the low carbon deposit
  • Small retained ferrite content resists solidification cracking
  • Root passes need a back purge to prevent oxidation of the underside

Storage and handling

Store bagged and clean, away from carbon steel dust and grinding debris that would contaminate the deposit.

Compare with

GMAWER308LThe standard stainless filler for 304 and 304L base metal, with a small amount of retained ferrite in the deposit to guard against solidification cracking.SMAWE316L-16The molybdenum-bearing stainless rod chosen when the service environment contains chlorides or acids that would pit an ordinary 18-8 deposit.GTAWER2209The matching filler for 22 chromium duplex stainless, deliberately over-alloyed in nickel so the deposit does not solidify with too much ferrite.