Stainless Steel E385 vs ER308Si
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel E385 and ER308Si are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. ER308Si runs hotter in service (760°C vs 400°C continuous) and ER308Si conducts heat better (15 W/m·K vs 12 W/m·K). On the shop floor, ER308Si machines more easily (fair vs poor), ER308Si welds better (excellent vs very good), and ER308Si sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than E385 (high, $$$$).
ER308SiChoose it when the part sees heat, or when the part is machined in volume.
E385 vs ER308Si: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all stainless steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Compressive Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 400 MPa58 ksi · Elongation at Break 38% · Reduction in Area 55% · Hardness, Rockwell B 88 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Latent Heat of Fusion 270 J/g116 BTU/lb · Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Brazeability / Solderability
Same in both: Formability (cold) 60 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | E385 | ER308Si |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
E385 vs ER308Si — frequently asked
What is the difference between E385 and ER308Si?
Stainless Steel E385 and ER308Si are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. ER308Si runs hotter in service (760°C vs 400°C continuous) and ER308Si conducts heat better (15 W/m·K vs 12 W/m·K).
Which is cheaper, E385 or ER308Si?
ER308Si is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while E385 is high ($$$$). 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, E385 or ER308Si?
ER308Si. Its machinability rates fair (40/100) against poor (25/100) for E385; for welding the order is ER308Si first (excellent, 95/100) then E385 (very good, 70/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in E385 and ER308Si 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.