Chemical components

Product Description

AWS E347-16 is a niobium-stabilized stainless steel welding electrode compliant with AWS A5.4 and ASME SFA-5.4 standards, specifically designed for welding stabilized austenitic stainless steels requiring maximum corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures. Featuring a rutile-type coating, this electrode provides excellent welding performance with a nominal composition of 19Cr-10Ni containing niobium (columbium) as a stabilizing element (8×C min to 1.00% max). The niobium addition effectively prevents chromium carbide precipitation in the sensitization temperature range (425-870°C), providing superior intergranular corrosion resistance for severe operating conditions above 700°F. Operating with both AC and DCEP current, it delivers high tensile strength and excellent weldability across all positions except vertical-down.

Features

▪ Superior High-Temperature Corrosion Resistance: The niobium (columbium) stabilizer preferentially combines with carbon to form stable carbides, preventing chromium depletion at grain boundaries and eliminating intergranular corrosion susceptibility. This makes E347-16 the preferred choice for applications exposed to temperatures above 700°F (370°C) where unstabilized electrodes like E308-16 would suffer sensitization and corrosion attack.
▪ Excellent Strength & Crack Resistance: Delivers impressive tensile strength (520-670 MPa/75-97 ksi), yield strength (600-86,500 psi/413-596 MPa), and elongation (30-42%) with ferrite numbers ranging from 2-15 (typically 5-15), providing optimal resistance to solidification cracking and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The balanced composition ensures robust weld metal properties suitable for demanding service environments including nuclear and power generation applications.
▪ Versatile Welding Performance: The rutile coating ensures smooth arc transfer with minimal spatter, easy arc starting, and excellent re-striking capabilities across flat, horizontal, vertical-up, and overhead positions. Self-detaching slag characteristics reduce cleanup time and minimize slag inclusion risks, while the electrode performs effectively on both AC and DCEP power sources, offering flexibility for various workshop and field welding environments.

Applications

▪ Widely utilized across industries requiring high-temperature corrosion resistance and stabilized stainless welding:
▪ High-Temperature Process Piping & Power Generation: Essential for welding process piping, boilers, heat exchangers, and power generation equipment operating at temperatures above 700°F (370°C). Used extensively in fossil fuel power plants, nuclear power facilities (where specifically qualified), and petrochemical refineries for welding stabilized grades subjected to high-temperature erosion-corrosion and thermal fatigue conditions.
▪ Stainless Steel Grades 321 & 347: Primary electrode for welding AISI/ASTM Types 321 (titanium-stabilized) and 347 (niobium-stabilized) stainless steels. The niobium stabilizer transfers across the arc more effectively than titanium, making E347-16 the preferred choice for welding Type 321 base metals where the titanium stabilizer would be lost during welding, ensuring consistent stabilization in the weld metal.
▪ Chemical Processing & Refinery Applications: Applied in chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and processing facilities for welding reactors, distillation columns, piping systems, and vessels exposed to corrosive chemicals at elevated temperatures. The electrode's superior resistance to pitting corrosion and sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SCC) makes it ideal for aggressive chemical environments.
▪ Nuclear & Critical Service: Well-suited for nuclear power plant components, pharmaceutical equipment, and food processing facilities where maximum corrosion resistance and weld metal integrity are critical. The high tensile strength and excellent mechanical properties ensure reliable performance in pressure vessels, containment systems, and safety-critical applications requiring strict quality control.