Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 vs ER308Si
Stainless Steel · grade comparison
Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 and ER308Si are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. On the shop floor, ER308Si welds better (excellent vs very good) and ER308Si sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than ER16-8-2 (high, $$$$).
ER308SiChoose it when it will be welded, or when cost is the deciding factor.
ER16-8-2 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
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Reduction in Area
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.29 · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 400 MPa58 ksi · Elongation at Break 38% · Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit) 240 MPa34.8 ksi · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 90 J66.4 ft·lbf · Hardness, Rockwell B 88 HRB
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Liquidus Temperature
Same in both: Melting Point (Solidus) 1,400°C2,552 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Latent Heat of Fusion
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 15 W/m·K8.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F · 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 · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 760°C1,400 °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)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 40 / 100 · Brazeability / Solderability 60 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 55%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 3.8 mm²/s · 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 | 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.
ER16-8-2 vs ER308Si — frequently asked
What is the difference between ER16-8-2 and ER308Si?
Stainless Steel ER16-8-2 and ER308Si are both stainless steel grades. Both yield at about 400 MPa — strength does not separate them. On the shop floor, ER308Si welds better (excellent vs very good) and ER308Si sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than ER16-8-2 (high, $$$$).
Which is cheaper, ER16-8-2 or ER308Si?
ER308Si is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) 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 ER308Si?
ER308Si. Its weldability rates excellent (95/100) 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 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.