Chemical components

Product Description

ER316L is a premium low-carbon austenitic stainless steel solid welding wire compliant with AWS A5.9 and EN ISO 14343-A G 18 12 Mo standards, specifically designed for welding low-carbon austenitic stainless steels requiring superior corrosion resistance. Featuring a nominal composition of 16.0-18.0% chromium, 10.0-14.0% nickel, 2.0-3.0% molybdenum and carbon content ≤0.03%, it delivers excellent pitting and crevice corrosion resistance, with a full austenitic deposited metal structure. Common diameters range from 0.8-3.2 mm, packaged in coils (15 kg) or straight sticks (5 kg), operating with DC reverse connection (DCEP) for versatile application across various corrosive industrial environments.​

Features

· ER316L offers excellent weldability and all-position performance, with its low-carbon and molybdenum-added formula ensuring stable arc transfer, minimal spatter, smooth weld bead and easy slag removal, suitable for all welding positions (flat, horizontal, vertical-up, overhead).

· Its smooth surface enables consistent wire feeding, ideal for automatic, semi-automatic and robot welding, reducing wire jamming and improving welding efficiency even in variable fit-up conditions.

· It delivers exceptional tensile strength (≥515 MPa), yield strength (≥205 MPa) and elongation (≥40%), with excellent toughness at both room and low temperatures.

· The addition of molybdenum enhances superior corrosion resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion and aggressive media (such as seawater, acids and alkalis), while the low carbon content prevents intergranular corrosion.

· Compatible with GMAW (Ar+(2-5%)CO₂ or Ar+(0.5-3%)O₂) and GTAW (pure Ar) processes, with DC reverse connection (DCEP preferred), it requires pre-drying at 200-300°C for 1 hour for critical applications, ensuring low maintenance and operational flexibility.​

Applications

Widely used across diverse industries requiring superior corrosion resistance, ER316L is primarily applied for welding Type 316, 316L, 316Ti stainless steels and other molybdenum-containing austenitic alloys. It is extensively used in marine engineering, chemical processing, food and pharmaceutical industries for fabricating and repairing components such as piping systems, storage tanks, heat exchangers and sanitary equipment. Suitable for offshore structures, seawater handling equipment and chemical reactors exposed to aggressive media, it is also applied in medical equipment, semiconductor manufacturing and architectural stainless steel, delivering reliable performance in harsh and corrosive operating conditions.