Welding Electrod to Weld SS304 to SS316

As per API RP 582, Table A2 Welding Guideline for Chemical,Oil and Gas Industries(Page No.31) Both Electrodes (E308 and E316) are suitable to weld 304 Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel to 316 Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel.These are all non hardenable high alloys. Grade 316 contains extra Mo (Molybdenum) to reduce the pitting corrosion.Safety point of view, both electrodes are suitable to weld these two materials. However, Corrosion point of view,I think E316 electrode is better than E304 due to the Molybdenum content. On the other hand, E316 is expensive than E304.The reference to Both Electrodes are available in ASME B&PV Section-II Part C, SFA-5.4 Specification for Stainless Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding.

Dear Sachin,

i will give a two small simple fundamentals to remember:

1) Always try to avoid inclusion of extra element in the weldament , Use lower composition . ( extra elelments dont do any good they only cause grain growth..and cause trouble)

For example in your case 304 and 316 , here 316 is special steel it contains Moly , now this Moly has no fuction in the joint. so avoid this , Use lower composition ...so go with 304 ( you can also use 308, 347 ...they are same family as 304)

the second simplle funda and the most basic one is

2) when joining Metal A to Meal B using Rod X, the weld joint chemistry is 20% A + 20% B + 60% X

THe succesful joint chemistry should be such that , the chemical composition comes out to be ( 18Cr, 8 Ni). So when stuck calculate.

I hope with these two fundamental you will never ever make a confusion when joining disimilar metals.

we do this day and night, cause this is our business. Contact me if you need any further details.

kind regards

ALL THE BEST