AWS filler wire and stick electrode classifications for stainless, duplex, nickel alloy, alloy steel and titanium grades, with the dissimilar-joint combinations that come up most often. Reference for selecting and checking consumables; the qualified welding procedure governs on code work.
| Base metal | TIG / MIG wire (AWS) | Stick electrode (AWS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 304 / 304L / 304H | ER308L (308LSi for MIG) | E308L-16 / -17 | Use 308L, not 308, for 304L. For 304H service above about 425 °C, 308H keeps creep strength. |
| SS 316 / 316L / 316Ti | ER316L (316LSi for MIG) | E316L-16 / -17 | Never substitute 308: the missing molybdenum is the reason 316 was chosen. |
| SS 321 / 321H | ER347 | E347-16 | ER321 wire is rarely stocked; 347 (niobium-stabilised) is the accepted substitute. |
| SS 347 | ER347 | E347-16 | Stabilised deposit for service in the sensitisation range. |
| SS 309 / 309S | ER309L | E309L-16 | Also the standard choice for stainless-to-carbon-steel joints. |
| SS 310 / 310S | ER310 | E310-16 | High-temperature furnace work. Fully austenitic, so keep heat input low to avoid hot cracking. |
| SS 317L | ER317L | E317L-16 | Higher molybdenum than 316L for stronger chloride resistance. |
| SS 904L | ER385 (904L) or ERNiCrMo-3 | E385-16 or ENiCrMo-3 | Nickel-base filler is often used so the weld is not the weakest point in acid service. |
| SS 410 / 410S | ER410 | E410-15 / -16 | Preheat about 200–315 °C and temper after welding. ER309L gives a softer, more ductile deposit where hardness is not required. |
| SS 420 | ER420 | E420-15 | Preheat and post-weld temper; welding is usually avoided on hardened parts. |
| SS 430 / 409 | ER430 / ER409Cb | E430-16 | Preheat about 150–230 °C. ER309L is common where ductility matters more than colour match. |
| SS 202 / 201 | ER308L | E308L-16 | The 200 series is welded with 308L; there is no common matching 202 filler. |
| 17-4PH (SS 630) | ER630 | E630-16 | Weld in the solution-annealed or overaged condition, then re-age to the required H condition. |
Duplex fillers carry extra nickel and nitrogen so the weld metal returns to roughly equal ferrite and austenite as it cools. Heat input and interpass temperature control matter as much as the consumable.
| Base metal | TIG / MIG wire (AWS) | Stick electrode (AWS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duplex 2205 (S31803 / S32205) | ER2209 | E2209-16 / -17 | Over-alloyed in nickel and nitrogen to restore the austenite balance. Never use 308 or 316. |
| Super duplex 2507 (S32750) | ER2594 | E2594-16 / -17 | Control heat input and interpass temperature (usually max 150 °C) to keep the ferrite-austenite balance. |
| Super duplex S32760 (F55) | ER2594 | E2594-16 / -17 | Same filler as 2507; confirm the ferrite number required by the specification. |
| Base metal | TIG / MIG wire (AWS) | Stick electrode (AWS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inconel 600 (N06600) | ERNiCr-3 (Alloy 82) | ENiCrFe-3 (Alloy 182) | Also the standard filler for high-temperature dissimilar joints. |
| Inconel 601 (N06601) | ERNiCrFe-11 or ERNiCr-3 | ENiCrFe-3 | For oxidation-resistant service. |
| Inconel 625 (N06625) | ERNiCrMo-3 (Alloy 625) | ENiCrMo-3 | The most widely used nickel filler: it tolerates dilution and resists hot cracking, so it also joins nickel alloys to steel. |
| Inconel 718 (N07718) | ERNiFeCr-2 (Alloy 718) | Not commonly supplied | Weld in the solution-annealed condition, then age after welding. |
| Incoloy 800 / 800H (N08800) | ERNiCr-3 | ENiCrFe-3 | For heat-resisting service. |
| Incoloy 825 (N08825) | ERNiFeCr-1 (Alloy 65) | ENiCrMo-3 | Matching filler for acid service. |
| Monel 400 (N04400) | ERNiCu-7 (Alloy 60) | ENiCu-7 (Alloy 190) | For Monel-to-steel joints, ERNiCrMo-3 or ENiCrFe-3 is used instead. |
| Monel K500 (N05500) | ERNiCu-7 | ENiCu-7 | Weld in the annealed condition and re-age afterwards. |
| Hastelloy C276 (N10276) | ERNiCrMo-4 (C276) | ENiCrMo-4 | Matching filler. Keep interpass temperature low and welds in the as-welded condition. |
| Hastelloy C22 (N06022) | ERNiCrMo-10 (C22) | ENiCrMo-10 | ERNiCrMo-10 is also used to weld C276 where higher corrosion margin is wanted. |
| 254 SMO / 6Mo (S31254) | ERNiCrMo-3 or ERNiCrMo-4 | ENiCrMo-3 | Nickel-base filler is required: matching 6Mo filler loses molybdenum to segregation. |
| Base metal | TIG / MIG wire (AWS) | Stick electrode (AWS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild / carbon steel (IS 2062, A36) | ER70S-6 | E6013 / E7018 | E7018 low-hydrogen for structural and pressure work. |
| EN8 / AISI 1040 (medium carbon) | ER70S-6 | E7018 | Preheat about 150–260 °C depending on section; slow cooling reduces cracking. |
| EN9, EN19 / 4140, EN24 / 4340 | ER80S-D2 or ER70S-6 | E7018 / E8018-B2 | Preheat and post-weld heat treat. Welding quenched-and-tempered bar needs a qualified procedure. |
| EN31 / 52100 (bearing steel) | Not normally welded | Not normally welded | High carbon: welding is avoided; if unavoidable, use a buttering layer with a qualified procedure. |
| Alloy steel P11 (1¼Cr-½Mo) | ER80S-B2 | E8018-B2 | Preheat about 150–200 °C, post-weld heat treat as per code. |
| Alloy steel P22 (2¼Cr-1Mo) | ER90S-B3 | E9018-B3 | Preheat about 200–250 °C and PWHT. |
| Alloy steel P91 (9Cr-1Mo-V) | ER90S-B9 | E9015-B9 | Strict preheat, interpass and PWHT control; chemistry limits are tight. |
| Titanium Grade 2 | ERTi-2 | Not used (GTAW only) | Full inert shielding, trailing shield and back purge; any air pickup embrittles the weld. |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | ERTi-5 | Not used (GTAW only) | Same shielding requirement; often welded in a chamber. |
The filler is chosen for the diluted weld chemistry, not to match either side of the joint.
| Joint | Usual filler | Why |
|---|---|---|
| SS 304 / 316 to carbon or mild steel | ER309L (ER309LMo for 316) | The extra chromium and nickel keep the diluted weld crack-resistant. Not 308. |
| Duplex 2205 to carbon steel | ER2209 or ERNiCrMo-3 | Confirm which the procedure allows; nickel filler avoids a brittle, ferrite-rich zone. |
| Nickel alloy to stainless or carbon steel | ERNiCrMo-3 (625) | Tolerates high dilution; the usual all-purpose choice for mixed joints. |
| Stainless clad / overlay on carbon steel | ER309L buttering layer, then matching filler | Two layers are usual before the corrosion-resistant cap. |
| SS 410 / 430 to austenitic stainless | ER309L | Ductile austenitic deposit across the joint. |
Weights and sizes: metal weight calculator · SS pipe size and weight chart · stainless steel grades chart · all 318 grade equivalents.
ER308L for TIG and MIG, or E308L-16 electrodes for stick welding. The 308 composition is deliberately over-alloyed against 304, so the deposit keeps the corrosion resistance of the base metal. Use the L (low carbon) version unless the joint runs above about 425 °C.
ER316L wire or E316L-16 electrodes. Do not substitute 308 or 308L: 316 is chosen for its 2–3% molybdenum, and a 308 deposit has none, so the weld would corrode before the plate does.
ER309L wire or E309L-16 electrodes, and ER309LMo when the stainless side is 316. The higher chromium and nickel allow for dilution by the carbon steel and keep the weld as crack-resistant austenite. 308L is not suitable for this joint.
ER2209 wire or E2209-16 / -17 electrodes, which carry extra nickel and nitrogen to restore the ferrite-austenite balance after welding. Super duplex 2507 and S32760 use ER2594. Austenitic fillers such as 308 or 316 are not acceptable for duplex.
Inconel 625 uses ERNiCrMo-3 and Hastelloy C276 uses ERNiCrMo-4, matching the base alloy. Inconel 600 uses ERNiCr-3 (Alloy 82) wire or ENiCrFe-3 (Alloy 182) electrodes. ERNiCrMo-3 is also the common choice for joining nickel alloys to stainless or carbon steel because it tolerates dilution.
ERNiCu-7 (Alloy 60) wire or ENiCu-7 (Alloy 190) electrodes. For Monel welded to steel or stainless, ERNiCrMo-3 or ENiCrFe-3 is used instead of a matching Monel filler.
Yes, but they are alloy steels supplied quenched and tempered, so they need preheat (about 200–300 °C depending on section), a low-hydrogen consumable such as E7018 or E8018-B2, and post-weld heat treatment. Welding a hardened shaft without a qualified procedure risks cracking.
No. For pressure, structural or code work, the qualified WPS governs: it fixes the consumable, preheat, interpass temperature, heat input and any post-weld heat treatment. This chart is a starting point for selecting a consumable and for checking that an offer is consistent.
Steel Impex India, Mumbai supplies stainless, duplex, nickel alloy, alloy steel and titanium pipes, tubes, sheets, plates, round bars, flanges and fittings across India with mill test certificates, and also supplies stainless, duplex and aluminium welding consumables. Send the base metal grade, the joint and the process and you will be quoted for both. Send your requirement ↗
Reference compiled from AWS A5.4, A5.9, A5.11, A5.14, A5.18 and A5.28 classifications and producer welding guides. Consumable choice, preheat, interpass temperature and post-weld heat treatment must follow the qualified welding procedure for the job. Checked November 2026.