ER316L vs ER70S-6: 30% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
ER316L vs ER70S-6
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
ER316L
Low-carbon molybdenum-bearing austenitic stainless steel welding wire — the standard filler for joining 316 and 316L stainless steels. 2-3% Mo provides superior pitting and crevice corrosion resistance versus ER308L, especially in chloride environments. Low carbon (≤0.03%) prevents sensitization. Used for TIG and MIG welding of chemical processing equipment, marine hardware, pharmaceutical vessels, pulp & paper digesters, and offshore piping. Also used for dissimilar joints between 304 and 316 grades.
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.
| ER316L | ER70S-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | — | K11140 |
| Category | Welding | Welding |
| Standard | AWS A5.9 | AWS A5.18 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | ER316L | 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 | ER316L | ER70S-6 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tensile_strength | ≥ 490 | ≥ 480 | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 310 | ≥ 400 | MPa |
| elongation | ≥ 30 | ≥ 22 | % |
Compatibility Assessment
ER316L and ER70S-6 have significantly different compositions (30% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ER316L the same as ER70S-6?
ER316L and ER70S-6 have a 30% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace ER316L with ER70S-6?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (30% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between ER316L and ER70S-6?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Si, Cr, Mo. ER316L 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.