Stainless Steel ER385
UNS N08904
ER385 is a superaustenitic 904L-type bare welding wire (UNS N08904) with high nickel, molybdenum and copper for chloride pitting and acid resistance.
Reference datasheet — ER385 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
ER385 tempers and conditions
ER385 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weld/weldment solution annealed 1100–1150 °C, water quenched | Use when the fabricated part is fully solution annealed after welding to dissolve Mo/Cr segregation and restore maximum corrosion resistance and ductility. | 240 | 540 | 45 | 150 HB | 1.7 % IACS |
As-welded submerged-arc deposit with basic flux | Pick for heavy-wall vessel seams; slightly lower strength and higher heat input than GTAW, use low-Si basic flux to keep pitting resistance. | 370 | 580 | 35 | 190 HB | 1.7 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Standard condition for 904L/20-type joints: use in the as-welded state, no PWHT required. | 390 | 600 | 38 | 195 HB | 1.7 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ER385 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CD-WIRE | CD | Supply form |
What is ER385?
ER385 is a superaustenitic 904L-type bare welding wire (UNS N08904) with high nickel, molybdenum and copper for chloride pitting and acid resistance. It is the standard filler for 904L piping, vessels and seawater equipment, supplied as cold-drawn spooled wire for GTAW, GMAW and SAW. As-welded deposits give about 390 MPa yield, 600 MPa tensile, 38% elongation and 195 HB, with a corrosion resistance score of 82 and service to 400 °C. The deposit is ferrite-free and fully austenitic, so hot cracking and heat-tint removal control the procedure; ER383 is the alternative where strong-acid resistance outranks chloride pitting. ER385 has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). ER385 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 54% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 38% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
What is ER385 used for?
- 904L piping and pressure vessel welds
- Seawater cooling and desalination equipment
- Sulfuric and phosphoric acid processing equipment
- Flue-gas scrubber internals
- Heat exchanger and condenser tube welds
- Weld overlay on carbon steel in chloride service
- Pump and valve components in brine handling
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 82/100, better than 90% of stainless steel grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 80% of stainless steel grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 79% of stainless steel grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 11.5 W/m·K (6.64 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of stainless steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 78% of stainless steel grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 77% of stainless steel grades
ER385 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ER385-AW; bars are the position among stainless steel grades.
Physical3
ER385 has a density of 8 g/cm³ (0.289 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of stainless steel grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical16
ER385 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 54% of stainless steel grades. Elongation at break is 38% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal6
ER385 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 11.5 W/m·K (6.64 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of stainless steel grades. Thermal expansion is 15.3 µm/m·K (8.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ER385 conducts electricity at 1.7 % IACS, worse than 93% of stainless steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 90% of stainless steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ER385 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of stainless steel grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability6
ER385's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. ER385 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ER385
Is ER385 easy to machine?
Weld metal is tough and gummy with heavy work hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed/high feed and flood coolant; grinding of the deposit is more common than machining.
Can ER385 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW/SAW with 100% Ar (or Ar+He/Ar+2%CO2 for MIG); keep heat input low (<1.5 kJ/mm), interpass <150 °C and stringer beads to avoid hot cracking in this ferrite-free fully austenitic deposit; back-purge with argon.
Can ER385 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as cold-drawn wire; high work hardening means intermediate anneals during drawing and careful spool cast/helix control for stable feeding.
ER385 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 intergranular corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Cr | 19.5 – 21.5 | 20.5 |
| Ni | 24 – 26 | 25 |
| Mo | 4.2 – 5.2 | 4.7 |
| Cuimproves resistance in sulfuric acid | 1.2 – 2 | 1.5 |
| Mn | 1 – 2.5 | 1.7 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on ER385?
Pickle and passivate (HNO3/HF) or mechanically clean the weld to remove heat tint — residual oxide sharply reduces the pitting resistance that this filler is bought for.
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 ER385 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- N08904
How much does ER385 cost?
ER385 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.
ER385 — frequently asked
What is ER385 used for?
ER385 is typically used for 904L piping and pressure vessel welds, seawater cooling and desalination equipment, sulfuric and phosphoric acid processing equipment, flue-gas scrubber internals, heat exchanger and condenser tube welds and weld overlay on carbon steel in chloride service. In short: 904L matching filler; high chloride pitting resistance; ferrite-free austenitic deposit.
What is the yield strength of ER385?
ER385 has a typical yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 54% of stainless steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is ER385 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 79% of stainless steel grades). Weld metal is tough and gummy with heavy work hardening — use rigid setups, sharp positive-rake carbide, low speed/high feed and flood coolant; grinding of the deposit is more common than machining.
Can ER385 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). GTAW/GMAW/SAW with 100% Ar (or Ar+He/Ar+2%CO2 for MIG); keep heat input low (<1.5 kJ/mm), interpass <150 °C and stringer beads to avoid hot cracking in this ferrite-free fully austenitic deposit; back-purge with argon.
What surface finishes work on ER385?
Pickle and passivate (HNO3/HF) or mechanically clean the weld to remove heat tint — residual oxide sharply reduces the pitting resistance that this filler is bought for.
Can ER385 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as cold-drawn wire; high work hardening means intermediate anneals during drawing and careful spool cast/helix control for stable feeding.
What is the maximum service temperature of ER385?
ER385 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 ER385-AW and ER385-SA?
AW is the default condition — standard condition for 904L/20-type joints: use in the as-welded state, no PWHT required. SA: use when the fabricated part is fully solution annealed after welding to dissolve Mo/Cr segregation and restore maximum corrosion resistance and ductility. Yield strength is 390 MPa in AW versus 240 MPa in SA.
How much does ER385 cost?
ER385 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 (ER385) — American Welding Society (2017)
- ASTM A959 / UNS N08904 designation practice — ASTM (2020)
- 904L (UNS N08904) alloy datasheet — physical and mechanical data — Outokumpu (2023)
- Superaustenitic filler metal ER385 weld-metal properties — Böhler Welding / Avesta-type consumable data (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (austenitic stainless consumables) — ASM International (1993)
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.