In this welding technology article, we’ll look at what electrodes are used for stainless steel and what their characteristics are. We’ll try to explain what the numbers printed on electrodes used in stainless steel welding actually mean.
Electrodes Used for Welding Stainless Steel
The electrodes given below, used for welding stainless steel, are defined by AWS (American Welding Society) standards.
Rutile-Coated Stainless Steel Electrodes
AWS E307-16 stainless steel electrode
Suitable for use on both AC and DC current. Has excellent crack resistance even when working with steels of low weldability. Suitable for welding 12-14% manganese steels to themselves and to other steels. Also suitable for buffer passes before hardfacing welds.
AWS E308H-17
A rutile-coated stainless steel welding electrode. Specifically designed for high-temperature applications. Generally used for welding 304H stainless steel materials.
AWS E308L-17
A rutile-coated, low-carbon stainless steel electrode, suitable for welding materials such as 304 and 304L. Also suitable for welding stabilized stainless steels of similar chemical composition. Care must be taken that it matches the creep resistance of the base material; otherwise it shouldn’t be used.
AWS E316 stainless steel electrode
A rutile-coated electrode. Very easy to strike and re-strike, and there’s no short-circuiting during welding. 3.25 mm and thinner electrodes can be used in all positions; 4 and 5 mm electrodes can be used in horizontal and similar positions. Slag removal is easy. Cracking, breakage, and impact resistance are good. Used for A.I.S.I. 316 and 316L austenitic stainless steels.
AWS E316L
A rutile-coated electrode. Breakage and impact resistance are good. High-temperature stability and corrosion resistance are high. The electrode burns smoothly and steadily; since it doesn’t spatter at all, post-weld cleanup is easy. Can be used in all positions. Electrodes need to be kept dry. Can be used on straight and alternating current. Used for welding 18/8 type stabilized stainless steels, particularly those that will operate at high temperature.
AWS E316L-17
A rutile-coated, low-carbon stainless steel electrode, suitable for welding materials such as 316 and 316L. Also suitable for welding stabilized stainless steels of similar chemical composition.
Care must be taken that it matches the creep resistance of the base material; otherwise it shouldn’t be used.
AWS E309L-17
Among the rutile-coated stainless steel welding electrodes. Produces a highly alloyed weld metal.
Suitable for welding mild and low-alloy steels to stainless steels.
Also suitable for creating a buffer/transition layer when carbon steel surfaces are to be clad with stainless steel.
AWS E310
Among the rutile-coated stainless steel electrodes. Breakage, cracking, and impact resistance are quite good. The weld metal’s high-temperature stability and corrosion resistance are also excellent. The electrode can be used in all positions, but the best results are obtained in flat and horizontal positions. With these electrodes, multi-pass welding of thick stainless steel (Nb- and Ti-stabilized 18-8-9 type A.I.S.I. 318) plates, especially high-carbon ones, can be done without problems.
AWS E310-16 stainless steel electrode
Among the rutile-coated stainless steel electrodes; an austenitic stainless steel electrode for welding 25Cr20Ni steels. The weld metal is resistant up to 1100-1150°C and contains no measurable ferrite.
Can also be used for welding some air-hardening steels, such as armor plate, and stainless steels to unalloyed steels.
AWS E312-17
A highly alloyed electrode producing a ferritic-austenitic duplex weld metal.
Resistant to stress corrosion and not sensitive to dilution.
Has good oxidation resistance up to 1150°C.
Used for joining steels of low weldability, for buffer layers before hardfacing applications, for welding dissimilar steels, for rollers, for aluminum forging dies,
for hot-work tooling, plastic injection molds, etc.
AWS E317L-17
A rutile-coated electrode suitable for welding 19Cr 13Ni 3.5Mo (317L) austenitic stainless steels.
Its high Mo content provides better resistance to acid and pitting corrosion compared to 316L types. Easy to weld in all positions with OK 64.30, and used with a calm arc stability on both AC and DC current.
AWS E318 stainless steel electrode
A rutile-coated electrode with a low-carbon core. Alloying elements pass into the weld metal from the electrode coating. Quite economical due to its high welding speed and high deposition efficiency. Its corrosion-resistant, hardfacing-surface, wear-resistant weld metal coating is preferred for surfaces where that’s desired. Easy to use and easy slag removal. The weld seam has a smooth and neat appearance. Used for welding 18Cr/8Ni(Mo) alloyed stainless steels.
AWS E318-17
Among the rutile-coated stainless steel welding electrodes. Suitable for welding Ti- or Nb-stabilized austenitic stainless steels. Especially suitable for welding 316Ti stainless steel material.
AWS E347-16
A rutile-coated electrode for welding Nb-stabilized 19Cr10Ni type stainless steels. Generally suitable for welding 321 stainless steels. Has good hot-cracking resistance. Due to its ferrite content, the operating temperature should be limited to a maximum of 400°C.
Basic-Coated Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes
AWS E307-15
An austenitic stainless steel electrode that produces a weld metal containing less than 5% ferrite.
The durable weld metal has excellent crack resistance even when working with steels of low weldability.
Suitable for welding 12-14% manganese steels to themselves and to other steels. Also suitable for buffer passes before hardfacing welds.
AWS E308H-15
Among the basic-coated stainless steel welding electrodes. Specifically designed for high-temperature applications, especially in petrochemical and chemical process plants.
Generally used for welding 304H stainless steel materials.
AWS E308L-15
A basic-coated stainless welding electrode, designed for positional welds such as pipe fitting in fields like refineries and power plants.
Suitable for applications requiring a minimum 0.38 mm lateral expansion down to -120°C and high mechanical property requirements.
Used for welding stainless steels such as 304 and 304L.
AWS E316L-15
Among the basic-coated stainless steel welding electrodes. Designed for positional welds such as pipe fitting in fields like refineries and power plants.
Suitable for applications requiring a minimum 0.38 mm lateral expansion down to -120°C and high mechanical property requirements. Used for welding stainless steels such as 316 and 316L.
AWS E309L-15 stainless steel electrode
Among the basic-coated stainless steel electrodes, a suitable electrode for welding dissimilar steels and stainless steels to each other.
Suitable for welding 24Cr13Ni type steels.
Also used to create a buffer layer when preparing carbon steel surfaces to be clad with stainless steel weld metal.
AWS E310-15
A basic-coated stainless steel electrode suitable for welding 25Cr 20Ni steels.
Also suitable for armor steels, austenitic manganese steels, and joining dissimilar steels.
AWS E318-15
Among the basic-coated stainless steel electrodes, suitable for welding Ti- or Nb-stabilized austenitic stainless steels. Especially suitable for welding 316Ti stainless steel material.
AWS E347-15
Among the basic-coated stainless steel welding electrodes for welding Nb-stabilized 19Cr10Ni type stainless steels. Generally suitable for welding 321, 347 stainless steels. Has good hot-cracking resistance. The operating temperature should be limited to a maximum of 400°C.
AWS E385-16
A special basic + rutile coated stainless steel electrode that produces a fully austenitic weld metal with high corrosion resistance against sulfuric acid. The weld metal has high resistance to pitting corrosion. Especially suitable for welding super-austenitic 904L stainless steel.
Source: Özmetal Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş
Electrode Compatibility
In stainless steel welding, choosing chromium-nickel electrodes compatible with the base material preserves corrosion resistance.
TIG Welding Electrodes
Tungsten electrodes used in TIG welding don’t melt; they’re only used to create the arc.
Filler Wire Selection
In stainless steel MIG/TIG welding, it’s recommended to choose a filler wire from the same alloy family as the base material.
Related Questions
These codes state, in a standardized way, which type of stainless steel the electrode is compatible with and which current type it can be used on. If the wrong code is chosen, problems like cracking or loss of corrosion resistance can appear in the weld zone.
High carbon content can lead to chromium carbide formation in the heat-affected zone during welding, weakening the stainless steel’s corrosion resistance. Low-carbon electrodes reduce this risk and preserve the weld zone’s resistance to rust.
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