ER308L vs ER70S-6: 32% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
ER308L vs ER70S-6
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
ER308L
Low-carbon austenitic stainless steel welding wire — the standard filler for joining 304 and 304L stainless steels. The L (low carbon ≤0.03%) prevents sensitization and intergranular corrosion in the heat-affected zone. Used for TIG (GTAW) and MIG (GMAW) with pure argon or Ar/CO2 shielding. Produces fully austenitic-ferritic weld metal with 5-15 FN (Ferrite Number) for crack resistance. Used for food processing equipment, chemical tanks, pharmaceutical vessels, and architectural stainless fabrication.
ER70S-6
K11140
The world's most popular solid MIG/TIG welding wire for carbon steel. High manganese (1.40-1.85%) and silicon (0.80-1.15%) content provides superior deoxidizing power — welds cleanly even on slightly rusty or oily steel. Copper-coated for smooth wire feeding. Produces X-ray quality porosity-free welds with excellent bead appearance. Used with CO2 or Ar/CO2 shielding gas. Minimum 480 MPa tensile strength. Used for general fabrication, structural steel, shipbuilding, pressure vessels, automotive, and construction. The go-to wire for every MIG welder.
| ER308L | ER70S-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | — | K11140 |
| Category | Welding | Welding |
| Standard | AWS A5.9 | AWS A5.18 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | ER308L | ER70S-6 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.03% | 0.06–0.15% | No overlap |
| Si | 0.3–0.65% | 0.8–1.15% | No overlap |
| Mn | 1–2.5% | 1.4–1.85% | OK |
| P | ≤ 0.03% | ≤ 0.025% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | ER308L | ER70S-6 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | ≥ 520 | ≥ 480 | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 320 | ≥ 400 | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 35 | ≥ 22 | % |
Compatibility Assessment
ER308L and ER70S-6 have significantly different compositions (32% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ER308L the same as ER70S-6?
ER308L and ER70S-6 have a 32% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace ER308L with ER70S-6?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (32% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between ER308L and ER70S-6?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Si, Cr, Ni. ER308L is a Welding grade, while ER70S-6 is a Welding grade.
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.