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Stainless Steel E330H vs ER308

Stainless Steel · grade comparison

Stainless Steel E330H and ER308 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 420 MPa — strength does not separate them. ER308 is the more ductile: elongation 40% versus 15% for E330H, and E330H is harder (210 HB vs 185 HB). E330H runs hotter in service (1,100°C vs 760°C continuous) and ER308 conducts heat better (15.5 W/m·K vs 12.5 W/m·K). On the shop floor, ER308 machines more easily (fair vs poor), ER308 welds better (excellent vs good), and ER308 sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than E330H (high, $$$$).

E330HChoose it when the part sees heat.

ER308Choose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part is machined in volume.

E330H vs ER308: properties

E330HER308

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

196 GPa28.4 Msi
195 GPa28.3 Msi

Shear Modulus

75 GPa10.9 Msi
77 GPa11.2 Msi

Bulk Modulus

160 GPa23.2 Msi
145 GPa21 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.29
0.3

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

420 MPa60.9 ksi
400 MPa58 ksi

Elongation at Break

15%
40%

Reduction in Area

25%
55%

Compressive Strength

430 MPa62.4 ksi
400 MPa58 ksi

Shear Strength

390 MPa56.6 ksi
400 MPa58 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

230 MPa33.4 ksi
240 MPa34.8 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

85 MPa·√m77.4 ksi·√in
150 MPa·√m137 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

25 J18.4 ft·lbf
90 J66.4 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

210 HB
185 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

94 HRB
90 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

220 HV
195 HV

Same in both: Tensile Strength (Ultimate) 600 MPa87 ksi

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

7.94 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³
7.9 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,370°C2,498 °F
1,400°C2,552 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,420°C2,588 °F
1,450°C2,642 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

12.5 W/m·K7.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F
15.5 W/m·K9 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

460 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

15 µm/m·K8.3 µin/in·°F
16.9 µm/m·K9.4 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

1,100°C2,012 °F
760°C1,400 °F

Min Service Temperature

-100°C-148 °F
-196°C-321 °F

Same in both: Latent Heat of Fusion 280 J/g120 BTU/lb

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

1.7 % IACS
2.4 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1.02×10⁻⁶ Ω·m40.2 µΩ·in
7.4×10⁻⁷ Ω·m29.1 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

55 / 100
65 / 100

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

—
-0.08 V

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

22 / 100
38 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

12%
45%

Weldability

55 / 100
95 / 100

Formability (cold)

20 / 100
55 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

45 / 100
60 / 100

Polishability

50 / 100
70 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

95 MJ/kg40,843 BTU/lb
57 MJ/kg24,506 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

8 kg CO₂/kg
5 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

200 L/kg24 gal/lb
130 L/kg15.6 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

40%
45%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Modulus of Resilience

450 kJ/m³
410 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

3.4 mm²/s
3.9 mm²/s

Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 76 kN·m/kg · Specific Stiffness (E / density) 24.7 MN·m/kg · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 3

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

3005007001,0001,5002,0007.27.47.67.888.2Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleER308E330H

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityE330HER308
Default condition——
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$ Premium
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——

Both take the same 7 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Pickling, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating.

E330H vs ER308 — frequently asked

What is the difference between E330H and ER308?

Stainless Steel E330H and ER308 are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 420 MPa — strength does not separate them. ER308 is the more ductile: elongation 40% versus 15% for E330H, and E330H is harder (210 HB vs 185 HB).

Which is cheaper, E330H or ER308?

ER308 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while E330H is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, E330H or ER308?

ER308. Its machinability rates fair (38/100) against poor (22/100) for E330H; for welding the order is ER308 first (excellent, 95/100) then E330H (good, 55/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E330H and ER308 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.