Electrode comparison

ER308L vs ER316L

ER316L carries 2–3% molybdenum for chloride resistance; ER308L does not. Match the filler to the base metal and the environment.

ER308L vs ER316L at a glance

	ER308L	ER316L
AWS specification	AWS A5.9/A5.9M	AWS A5.9/A5.9M
Process	TIG (GTAW) / MIG (GMAW)	TIG (GTAW) / MIG (GMAW)
Form	Solid wire / rod	Solid wire / rod
Tensile strength (min)	75 ksi	70 ksi
Yield strength (min)	45 ksi	40 ksi
Elongation (min)	35%	30%
Impact toughness	Not required; austenitic deposits stay tough to cryogenic temperatures	Not required; austenitic deposits remain tough at low temperature
Polarity	DCEP (GMAW), DCEN (GTAW)	DCEP (GMAW), DCEN (GTAW)
Positions	Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead	Flat, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead
Penetration	Medium	Medium
Deposition rate	Medium to high depending on process	Medium to high depending on process
Coating / core	None — bare wire or rod	None — bare wire or rod
Slag	None; a light oxide film should be brushed or pickled off	None; light oxide film to be cleaned or pickled
Shielding gas	100% argon for TIG; tri-mix 90% He / 7.5% Ar / 2.5% CO2 for spray MIG	100% argon for TIG; tri-mix or 98/2 for MIG
Storage	Keep clean and dry. Contamination, not moisture, is the main enemy for bare stainless filler.	Clean, dry and isolated from iron contamination.
Primary use	Sanitary tube and pipe welding for food, dairy and pharma	Marine and offshore piping and structures

Which should you use?

Molybdenum is the whole difference. ER316L's 2 to 3% molybdenum resists pitting and crevice corrosion in chlorides, which is why it is standard for marine, chemical and pharmaceutical work. ER308L has none and is the correct, cheaper filler for 304 and 304L. Both handle identically at the torch, take the same shielding gas and run at the same amperage — so the decision is purely about the base metal and the service environment.

Choose ER308L when

Type 304 and 304L base metal
Indoor or non-chloride service
General stainless fabrication and architectural work

Choose ER316L when

Type 316 and 316L base metal
Marine, coastal and offshore exposure
Chemical, pulp-and-paper and pharmaceutical equipment

Amperage compared

Diameter	ER308L	ER316L
0.030 in (0.8 mm) MIG	50–150 A	50–150 A
0.035 in (0.9 mm) MIG	70–180 A	70–180 A
0.045 in (1.2 mm) MIG	100–250 A	100–250 A
1/16 in (1.6 mm) TIG	40–90 A	40–90 A
3/32 in (2.4 mm) TIG	70–130 A	70–130 A
1/8 in (3.2 mm) TIG	100–180 A	100–180 A

Ranges are typical starting points. Diameters listed for only one electrode are shown as — for the other.

ER308L vs ER316L — common questions

Can I use ER308L on 316 tubing?

It will weld soundly, but the joint loses the chloride resistance that 316 was specified for and becomes the first place to pit. Use ER316L.

Do they weld the same way?

Essentially yes. Same argon shielding, same amperage ranges, same back-purging requirement on pipe roots, same need for stainless-dedicated brushes.

Is ER316L stronger?

Slightly lower minimum tensile, at 70 ksi against 75 ksi. Its benefit is corrosion resistance and elevated-temperature strength rather than room-temperature strength.

Full specifications

ER308L

AWS A5.9/A5.9M

ER308L is the bare wire and TIG rod for 304 and 304L stainless — the same low-carbon 19Cr-10Ni chemistry as E308L, without a flux coating.

ER316L