ER308L filler metal
ER308L stainless bare wire and rod: chemistry, base-metal selection, process-specific shielding, weld properties, and handling.
Tags: consumables, welding, stainless-steel, er308l, filler-metal
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Kobelco lists 100–200 A for 1.6 mm TG-S308L in GTAW with argon and DCEN. Its typical wire carbon is 0.01%, against a stated 0.03% maximum. Keep product guidance and wire chemistry separate from qualified settings and the completed weld's chemistry after dilution. Kobelco TG-S308L parameter table
Identity and specification scope
AWS A5.9 covers bare ER308L wire and rod. Specify covered E308L-16/-17 and flux-cored E308LT products separately under their respective standards. AWS A5.9 scope, AWS filler-metal standards overview
The published standard is AWS A5.9/A5.9M:2022, 10th edition, approved by ANSI on 8 September 2022, and based on ISO 14343:2017, modified. Classification is based on filler-metal chemical composition, not a universal deposited-weld tensile or impact guarantee. The standard covers several processes, including GTAW, GMAW, PAW, and SAW. Its scope does not make every supplied diameter or package suitable for each process. Confirm the actual product, form, and governing specification edition. AWS 2022 preview, title page and scope
Chemistry and the meaning of “L”
The L indicates low carbon. ESAB describes OK Tigrod 308L as particularly useful where intergranular corrosion is a concern. Low carbon reduces one contributor to sensitization; it does not make a weld immune to corrosion or compensate for an unsuitable parent alloy, contamination, or thermal cycle. ESAB also bounds particular uses of this product, including its recommendation for corresponding Nb-stabilized steels only when service will not exceed 350°C. That condition is product/application guidance, not a universal ER308L service-temperature rating. ESAB OK Tigrod 308L
Kobelco TG-S308L, intended for low-carbon 18%Cr–8%Ni steel, lists these rod/wire mass-percent values:
| Element | Typical TG-S308L | Manufacturer's stated range or maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 0.01% | 0.03% maximum |
| Chromium | 19.8% | 19.5–22.0% |
| Nickel | 10.1% | 9.0–11.0% |
| Silicon | 0.37% | 0.30–0.65% |
Typical values differ from limits; neither is a completed-joint analysis after parent-metal dilution. Kobelco TG-S308L chemistry
ER308LSi is a distinct higher-silicon variant. Hobart's 308L HiSil sheet explains that additional silicon improves weld-pool fluidity and tie-in and may support higher travel speeds. It lists 0.80% typical silicon versus the 0.37% typical value above for TG-S308L. The HiSil sheet carries revision code 240105, replacing 210618. Treat the Si suffix as part of the specification; do not silently substitute it into a procedure approved for another filler. Hobart 308L HiSil TDS, supplied by Linde, pp. 1–2
Base-metal and service selection
For ordinary matching applications, 304L tube or pipe is a common ER308L use. Hobart distinguishes this from 316, for which it recommends 316L filler, and from a carbon-steel component joined to austenitic stainless, for which it recommends a 309-grade filler. These are useful selection branches, not permission to identify unknown material by appearance and choose a rod. Establish both parent grades and the intended environment before applying a filler chart. Hobart austenitic stainless tube-and-pipe guidance
Ferrite and cracking behavior also depend on chemistry. Hobart discusses ferrite number as a welding-selection consideration and links filler choice, heat input, and cooling with hot-cracking resistance. Do not convert a catalog's ferrite value into a universal acceptance range: the specification may impose different needs for corrosion, cryogenic, or other service. Where required, evaluate the deposited joint with the specified method and actual dilution rather than relying solely on a wire label. Hobart filler-selection discussion
Process, shielding, and a bounded example
| Process example | Documented arrangement | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| GTAW with Kobelco TG-S308L | Argon shielding, DCEN; rod and wire forms listed | Use its diameter-specific guidance with the actual joint and WPS. |
| GMAW with bare stainless wire | Shielding depends on transfer mode; argon-rich mixtures with small active additions and helium-containing blends are used | A TIG argon setup is not automatically a MIG setup. |
| SAW with ESAB OK Autrod 308L | Product lists OK Flux 10.93, 10.94, or 10.95 | Evaluate the wire–flux combination, not the wire classification alone. |
Sources: Kobelco TG-S308L; Miller stainless shielding guidance; ESAB OK Autrod 308L SAW.
Qualify the TG-S308L setup on representative thickness, geometry and fit with the intended tungsten, travel speed and heat control. Kobelco TG-S308L parameter table
Root protection is separate from torch shielding. Miller discusses argon back purging, with qualified exceptions for particular modified GMAW procedures. ER308L chemistry alone does not eliminate purging. Keep shielding and backing arrangements in the welding procedure specification (WPS). Miller stainless tube-and-pipe guidance
Weld properties, preparation, and handling
Typical test results require context. Hobart's 308L HiSil sheet explicitly calls its properties typical rather than guaranteed and warns that different procedures can produce different results. Its ER308LSi figures should not be transferred to an ER308L rod or to a diluted production joint. Specify the actual weld-property requirements, test condition, and product certificate separately from the chemical classification. Hobart HiSil TDS, typical-data disclaimer
Use clean, dedicated stainless preparation tools and prevent contact contamination from carbon-steel work. Miller emphasizes joint fit and controlling heat input/cooling to preserve corrosion resistance and limit distortion. Low-carbon filler helps manage chemistry but does not replace these controls or the required post-weld surface treatment. Miller preparation and heat-control guidance
Keep wire and cut rods dry, clean, and identified. Lincoln's 2023 European consumables catalog, printed p. 37, directs protection of solid wires and rods from moisture, dirt, and oil and rejects seriously deteriorated material. Do not apply a coated-electrode rebaking schedule to bare stainless filler without the supplier's instruction. Packaging, surface condition, diameter, spool/feeding compatibility, lot identity, and required approvals all belong in purchasing and handling controls. Lincoln 2023 catalog, solid-wire and TIG-rod handling