Stainless Steel ER317L
UNS S31783
ER317L is the low-carbon version of ER317 bare wire, a high-molybdenum austenitic stainless filler (UNS S31783) in the AWS A5.9 family.
Reference datasheet — ER317L is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the AW condition
ER317L tempers and conditions
ER317L is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed deposit | Pick when the fabrication is fully solution annealed after welding (e.g. sensitive service, ferrite/σ elimination); strength drops, ductility and corrosion resistance are maximised. | 250 | 545 | 50 | 160 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
AW | Choose for thick-section vessel seams and strip/wire overlay; properties depend strongly on the flux, dilution and heat input. | 380 | 570 | 35 | 172 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
AW | Choose for thin-wall pipe, root passes and cleanest deposits; inert-gas shielding gives the lowest oxygen and best toughness. | 395 | 580 | 40 | 175 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Default condition for filler metal: properties of the undiluted deposit in the as-welded state, no PWHT. | 400 | 590 | 38 | 180 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
AW | Choose for higher deposition on plate and vessel work with Ar+2%O2 / Ar+CO2 mixes; slightly higher strength, lower toughness than TIG. | 410 | 600 | 36 | 185 HB | 2.2 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ER317L is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
WIRE-CD | Wire, cold drawn / bright | Supply form |
What is ER317L?
ER317L is the low-carbon version of ER317 bare wire, a high-molybdenum austenitic stainless filler (UNS S31783) in the AWS A5.9 family. It is chosen for welding 317L-type high-Mo austenitic base metals where resistance to intergranular corrosion after welding is required, and is supplied as cold-drawn spool wire and cut rod for GTAW, GMAW and SAW. As-welded deposits run about 400 MPa yield, 590 MPa tensile, 38 % elongation and 180 HB, with service listed to 400 C. Cost and stocking breadth are the practical limits; ER316L is the substitute where the extra molybdenum is not needed. ER317L has a density of 7.98 g/cm³ (0.288 lb/in³), heavier than 85% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,375°C (2,507 °F). ER317L has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — stronger than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 38% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
What is ER317L used for?
- Chemical processing vessels
- Flue-gas desulfurization equipment
- Scrubber ducting and internals
- Pulp and paper bleach plant piping
- Acid transfer piping and fittings
- Weld overlay on carbon steel vessel walls
- Heat exchanger tube-to-tubesheet joints
Advantages
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 95% of stainless steel grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 76/100, better than 80% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
ER317L properties
Typical room-temperature values for ER317L-AW; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
ER317L has a density of 7.98 g/cm³ (0.288 lb/in³), heavier than 85% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,375°C (2,507 °F).
Mechanical16
ER317L has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — stronger than 57% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 38% and the elastic modulus is 195 GPa (28.3 Msi).
Thermal6
ER317L is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 14.2 W/m·K (8.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 76% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 16.5 µm/m·K (9.17 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ER317L conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 61% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (76/100), better than 80% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ER317L takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 70% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
ER317L's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the stainless steel family
Yield strength against density for every stainless steel grade FabDigit runs. ER317L is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ER317L
Is ER317L easy to machine?
Deposits machine like 317L/316L: gummy and work-hardening — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy feed, flood coolant and avoid dwelling.
Can ER317L be welded?
GTAW/GMAW/SAW with low heat input, interpass ≤150 °C, Ar or Ar+1–2 % O2 (add He for thick sections); keep ferrite ~3–10 FN, no preheat and normally no PWHT.
Can ER317L be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire/rod; the deposit itself cold-works rapidly, so bend weldments generously and expect high springback.
ER317L chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Clow-carbon for sensitisation resistance | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Cr | 18.5 – 20.5 | 19.5 |
| Ni | 13 – 15 | 14 |
| Mo | 3 – 4 | 3.5 |
| Mn | 1 – 2.5 | 1.8 |
| Si | 0.3 – 0.65 | 0.45 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.75 | 0.2 |
| Febalance, ~59–63 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on ER317L?
Pickle and passivate or electropolish welds to restore the Cr-Mo passive film; remove heat tint fully, since discoloured zones pit first in chloride service.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on stainless steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Passivation
Organic Coating
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Stainless Steel ER317L in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- S31783
How much does ER317L cost?
ER317L is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
ER317L — frequently asked
What is ER317L used for?
ER317L is typically used for chemical processing vessels, flue-gas desulfurization equipment, scrubber ducting and internals, pulp and paper bleach plant piping, acid transfer piping and fittings and weld overlay on carbon steel vessel walls. In short: low-carbon high-Mo filler; more pitting resistance than 316L; resists weld sensitization.
What is the yield strength of ER317L?
ER317L has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 590 MPa (85.6 ksi) — stronger than 57% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is ER317L easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 70% of stainless steel grades). Deposits machine like 317L/316L: gummy and work-hardening — use rigid setups, positive-rake carbide, heavy feed, flood coolant and avoid dwelling.
Can ER317L be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). GTAW/GMAW/SAW with low heat input, interpass ≤150 °C, Ar or Ar+1–2 % O2 (add He for thick sections); keep ferrite ~3–10 FN, no preheat and normally no PWHT.
What surface finishes work on ER317L?
Pickle and passivate or electropolish welds to restore the Cr-Mo passive film; remove heat tint fully, since discoloured zones pit first in chloride service.
Can ER317L be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire/rod; the deposit itself cold-works rapidly, so bend weldments generously and expect high springback.
What is the maximum service temperature of ER317L?
ER317L is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between ER317L-AW and ER317L-SA?
AW is the default condition — default condition for filler metal: properties of the undiluted deposit in the as-welded state, no PWHT. SA: pick when the fabrication is fully solution annealed after welding (e.g. sensitive service, ferrite/σ elimination); strength drops, ductility and corrosion resistance are maximised. Yield strength is 400 MPa in AW versus 250 MPa in SA.
How much does ER317L cost?
ER317L is a high-cost stainless steel ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- AWS A5.9/A5.9M — Bare Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes and Rods — AWS (2017)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part C (SFA-5.9) — ASME (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties of Stainless Steels (Type 317L) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (austenitic stainless welding) — ASM International (1993)
- Stainless filler metal datasheets, ER317L all-weld-metal properties — Lincoln Electric / voestalpine Böhler Welding / ESAB (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.