Welding Wire
ER16-8-2 High Temperature Stainless Steel Welding Wire
ER16-8-2 is a 16-8-2 high temperature stainless steel welding wire classified under AWS A5.9. Its nominal 16Cr-8Ni-2Mo weld metal is designed for welding selected 3XXH stainless steels where high-temperature stability, hot ductility and resistance to thermal embrittlement are important. ER16-8-2 welding wire is commonly used for 304H, 321H, 347H and 316H stainless steels in high-temperature piping, power generation, petrochemical and chemical processing applications.
Where Is ER16-8-2 Welding Wire Used?
ER16-8-2 is not a general-purpose 304L or 316L welding wire. It is a specialized 16-8-2 filler metal for high-temperature service.
Typical applications include:
- High-temperature and high-pressure piping
- Thick-wall steam piping
- Superheater headers
- Furnace components
- Catalytic crackers and transfer lines
- Steam and gas turbine components
- Power generation equipment
- Petrochemical and chemical processing equipment
The alloy is particularly associated with 3XXH stainless steels, where weld-metal hot ductility and long-term high-temperature performance are important.
ER16-8-2 for 304H, 321H and 347H
ER16-8-2 welding wire is commonly matched with or considered for:
Base Material | Typical Application |
|---|---|
304H / UNS S30409 | High-temperature piping and process equipment |
321H / UNS S32109 | Steam piping and high-temperature components |
347H / UNS S34709 | Thick-section piping and power equipment |
316H / UNS S31609 | High-temperature chemical and process equipment |
Selected 3XXH grades | High-temperature industrial service |
For demanding applications, filler selection should consider the base-metal grade, service temperature, component thickness, welding procedure and applicable code.
For other stainless steel welding applications, such as duplex 2205 fabrication, [ER2209 duplex stainless steel welding wire] provides a different filler-metal solution specifically associated with duplex stainless steels.
Why Use 16-8-2 Filler Metal?
The 16-8-2 alloy is designed with a controlled Cr-Ni-Mo balance rather than the composition of conventional 300-series filler metals.
Its main characteristics include:
- Good hot ductility
- Controlled low ferrite
- Resistance to thermal embrittlement
- Good resistance to weld hot cracking
- Suitability for elevated-temperature service
Commercial ER16-8-2 products commonly specify low ferrite levels, with some manufacturers reporting approximately 1–6 FN or below 5 FN depending on product and measurement.
Some commercial products are specified for service temperatures up to approximately 800°C, but the actual allowable service temperature depends on the base material, design, welding procedure and operating conditions.
GTAW / TIG, GMAW / MIG and SAW
ER16-8-2 is supplied as solid filler metal for several welding processes.
GTAW / TIG:
Available as straight filler rods for precision welding and root passes. Argon or an appropriate inert shielding gas is normally used.
GMAW / MIG:
Available as continuous welding wire for semi-automatic and automatic welding. Suitable shielding gas and transfer mode should be selected according to the WPS.
SAW:
ER16-8-2 wire can also be supplied for submerged arc welding where the product specification and welding procedure permit.
Common commercial product forms include TIG filler rods and MIG spools. Sizes vary by manufacturer and application.
Chemical Composition of ER16-8-2
AWS A5.9 specifies the following composition range for ER16-8-2.
Element | AWS A5.9 Reference |
|---|---|
C | ≤ 0.10% |
Mn | 1.0–2.0% |
Si | 0.30–0.65% |
P | ≤ 0.03% |
S | ≤ 0.03% |
Cr | 14.5–16.5% |
Ni | 7.5–9.5% |
Mo | 1.0–2.0% |
Cu | ≤ 0.75% |
The resulting weld metal is commonly described as 16Cr-8Ni-2Mo or simply 16-8-2.
Mechanical Properties
Commercial ER16-8-2 welding wires can provide high tensile strength and good ductility. Actual values vary between manufacturers and product specifications.
Property | Reference / Typical Commercial Value |
|---|---|
Tensile Strength | Varies by product |
Yield Strength | Varies by product |
Elongation | Varies by product |
Ferrite | Controlled low ferrite |
For this reason, project specifications should be checked against the actual manufacturer's TDS/MTC rather than using one supplier's typical value as a universal requirement.
ER16-8-2 Classification
- AWS A5.9: ER16-8-2
- ASME SFA-5.9: ER16-8-2
- UNS: S16880
- EN ISO 14343-A: G 16 8 2
Common procurement search terms include ER16-8-2 welding wire, 16-8-2 welding wire, 16-8-2 filler wire, 16-8-2 filler metal, and ER16-8-2 TIG filler rod.
ER16-8-2 vs E16-8-2-16
These two products belong to the same 16-8-2 alloy family but serve different welding processes.
ER16-8-2 is a solid welding wire/filler rod used for GTAW, GMAW and certain SAW applications.
[E16-8-2-16 high temperature stainless steel welding electrode] is a covered electrode used for SMAW.
They should therefore be selected according to the welding process, base material and approved WPS rather than treated as interchangeable products.
For stainless steel-to-carbon or low-alloy steel applications where a different weld-metal chemistry is required, [E309MoL-16 stainless steel welding electrode] may be considered as another filler-metal option.
Supply for Industrial Welding Applications
GD WELD supplies ER16-8-2 high temperature stainless steel welding wire for industrial procurement, including TIG filler rods and MIG welding wire.
Product diameter, wire form, packaging, MTC and other inspection or documentation requirements can be supplied according to project specifications.
Tags
ER16-8-2, ER16-8-2 welding wire, ER16-8-2 stainless steel welding wire, 16-8-2 welding wire, 16-8-2 filler wire, 16-8-2 filler metal, high temperature stainless steel welding wire, ER16-8-2 TIG filler rod, ER16-8-2 MIG welding wire, 304H welding wire, 321H welding wire, 347H welding wire, 316H welding wire, 3XXH stainless steel welding wire, low ferrite welding wire
Internal Links
👉 Internal Link 1: Anchor text: ER2209 duplex stainless steel welding wire Link to: ER2209 Duplex Stainless Steel Welding Wire
👉 Internal Link 2: Anchor text: E16-8-2-16 high temperature stainless steel welding electrode Link to: E16-8-2-16 High Temperature Stainless Steel Welding Electrode
👉 Internal Link 3: Anchor text: E309MoL-16 stainless steel welding electrode Link to: E309MoL-16 Stainless Steel Welding Electrode
