ER308 is a welding consumable tailored for welding 304 stainless steel, while ER304 is simply another type of 304 stainless steel. To use an analogy: it’s like using ordinary fabric to patch a piece of high-end clothing. While the colors may appear similar, a professional tailor will use specially matched wire and fabric to ensure the patch’s strength, color durability, and overall aesthetic. Substituting ordinary fabric may not be noticeable in the short term, but after a few washes, color differences, shrinkage, or cracking may occur.
The classification of stainless steel welding consumables is a crucial and practical topic. The choice of welding consumables directly impacts weld quality, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. There are various ways to categorize stainless steel welding consumables, primarily based on material form,matching principles, and functional characteristics. Below, I will provide a detailed and systematic overview.
Ferritic stainless steel is a type of stainless steel with chromium as the primary alloying element(typically between 10.5% and 30%), a low carbon content, and a predominantly ferrite structure in service. Its performance characteristics lie between those of martensitic and austenitic stainless steels.
Martensitic stainless steels are a type of stainless steel whose mechanical properties (such as hardness and strength) can be significantly modified through heat treatment (such as quenching and tempering). They are members of the stainless steel family known for their strength and hardness.
Welding duplex stainless steel is a highly technical topic. Due to its unique dual-phase (ferrite + austenite) microstructure, special care is required during welding to maintain its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
Austenitic stainless steel refers to stainless steel with a predominantly austenite structure when in use. Simply put, its microstructure is a face-centered cubic crystal structure, achieved by adding high levels of austenite-forming elements such as nickel (Ni), manganese(Mn), and nitrogen (N) to an iron-chromium alloy.
ER385 is a stainless steel gas shielded welding wire primarily used for welding materials requiring high corrosion resistance, such as 904L stainless steel. The following is a summary of its key information:
ER2209 is a duplex stainless steel welding consumable widely used in the petrochemical industry, offshore platforms, shipbuilding, and other fields.
ER307 is an austenitic stainless steel welding wire, particularly suitable for welding dissimilar steels or where non-magnetic properties are required.
ER430 stainless steel welding wire is a welding material specially used for welding17% chromium ferritic stainless steel. Due to its good corrosion resistance and wear resistance, it is used in some specific occasions.
What is ER2594?
2594: The number represents its key alloying elements. 25 represents approximately 25% chromium (Cr), while 94 represents the combination of approximately 9.5% nickel (Ni) and 4% molybdenum (Mo). More importantly, it contains very high levels of nitrogen (N) (typically >
0.25%).
ER308L is an ultra-low carbon austenitic stainless steel welding wire primarily used for welding 304L (022Cr19Ni10) stainless steel. It offers excellent intergranular corrosion resistance and excellent weldability.