Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 vs ER308H
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 and ER308H are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. On the shop floor, ER308H welds better (excellent vs very good), ER16-8-2 forms better (65 vs 55 out of 100), and ER308H sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than ER16-8-2 (high, $$$$).
ER308HChoose it when it will be welded, or when cost is the deciding factor.
ER16-8-2 vs ER308H: 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.
Shear Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 196 GPa28.4 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Elongation at Break 38%
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Density 7.9 g/cm³0.29 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,400°C2,552 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 500 J/kg·K0.12 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 16.5 µm/m·K9.2 µin/in·°F · 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)
Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 58 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Same in both: Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %) 40% · Brazeability / Solderability 60 / 100 · Polishability 65 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Typical Recycled Content
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb · Embodied Carbon (primary production) 4.5 kg CO₂/kg · Embodied Water 130 L/kg15.6 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 24.8 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.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | ER16-8-2 | ER308H |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
ER16-8-2 vs ER308H — frequently asked
What is the difference between ER16-8-2 and ER308H?
Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 and ER308H are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. On the shop floor, ER308H welds better (excellent vs very good), ER16-8-2 forms better (65 vs 55 out of 100), and ER308H sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than ER16-8-2 (high, $$$$).
Which is cheaper, ER16-8-2 or ER308H?
ER308H is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while ER16-8-2 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 welds better, ER16-8-2 or ER308H?
ER308H. Its weldability rates excellent (88/100) against very good (78/100) for ER16-8-2.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in ER16-8-2 and ER308H 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.