Filler rods for gas tungsten arc welding (TIG / GTAW), in five common items: ERTi-7 titanium rod (2.4 mm), TG-S347 stainless rod (2.4 mm), ER308L stainless rod (2.0 mm), ER309L stainless rod (2.4 mm) and TG-X316L flux-cored stainless rod (2.2 mm). Standard length 1000 mm. For stainless piping welds, pressure vessel repair welds, cleanroom pipe fabrication and titanium structural parts.
TIG (GTAW) is a high-cleanliness welding process with smooth, slag-less welds and stable mechanical properties, used for stainless water lines, pressure vessels, cleanroom piping, chemical equipment and titanium structures where weld quality matters. A TIG welding rod is the filler metal in GTAW, fused with the base metal by the tungsten arc.
This page covers five common part numbers: ERTi-7, TG-S347, ER308L, ER309L and TG-X316L. A JIAHON affiliated company supplies customers throughout Taiwan, and can source to line specifications or suggest compatible part numbers.
Specifications
| Part number | Type | Diameter | Standard | Main composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERTi-7 | Titanium TIG rod | 2.4 mm | AWS A5.16 | Ti-0.2Pd (palladium-bearing corrosion-resistant titanium) |
| TG-S347 | Stainless TIG rod (solid) | 2.4 mm | AWS A5.9 ER347 | Cr, Ni + Nb stabilized, resists intergranular corrosion |
| ER308L | Stainless TIG rod (solid) | 2.0 mm | AWS A5.9 | Cr, Ni, low C |
| ER309L | Stainless TIG rod (solid) | 2.4 mm | AWS A5.9 | High Cr, Ni, for dissimilar-steel buffer layers |
| TG-X316L | Flux-cored stainless TIG rod | 2.2 mm | AWS A5.22 R316LT1-5 (φ2.2 × 1000 mm) | Cr, Ni, Mo + flux / alloy powder core |
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Process | TIG / GTAW |
| Standard length | 1000 mm |
| Typical shielding gas | Stainless: pure argon Ar 99.99%; ERTi-7: high-purity argon Ar 99.999% + back / trailing shield |
| Storage | Dry place (RH < 60%), away from acid and alkali vapors; use within 1 month after opening or reseal against moisture |
Values above are general industrial ranges for TIG rods; actual alloy grade, diameter, length and shielding gas depend on the customer’s specification and base metal (general case; individual cases still need their own assessment).
Applications
Rod choice depends on the base metal and weld quality required. Typical uses for the five items:
- SMT / EMS fixture and machine structure repair (ER308L): repair and fabrication welds on stainless fixtures, machine frames and conveyor rails; 2.0 mm balances handling and deposition, for general 304 / 304L parts.
- Dissimilar-steel joints and buffer layers (ER309L): joining stainless to carbon steel and overlay buffer layers; the high Cr and Ni content helps prevent cracking; 2.4 mm for medium-thick plate.
- Intergranular-corrosion-resistant parts (TG-S347): stainless parts needing long-term high-temperature or intergranular corrosion resistance, such as chemical piping flanges and heat-resistant parts; Nb-stabilized; 2.4 mm for thick parts.
- Semiconductor / cleanroom stainless piping (TG-X316L): fab UHP gas lines and chemical lines use SUS316L and BA tube, with back purging to avoid oxidation discoloration; the flux-cored rod gives a smooth root and inner surface, reducing adsorption and particle contamination; 2.2 mm.
- Titanium parts (medical, aerospace, chemical corrosion-resistant) (ERTi-7): welding palladium-bearing titanium for medical implant housings and corrosion-resistant reactors; ERTi-7 needs a trailing shield or fully enclosed argon chamber, and shielding must continue until the weld cools below 400 °C; 2.4 mm.
Selection points
| Base metal | Part number | Diameter | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUS304 / 304L structures | ER308L | 2.0 mm | General structures, repair |
| Dissimilar steels (304 vs carbon steel) | ER309L | 2.4 mm | Buffer layer, prevents cracking |
| Intergranular-corrosion / heat-resistant parts | TG-S347 | 2.4 mm | Nb stabilized, high-temperature corrosion resistance |
| SUS316L (corrosion-resistant, UHP piping) | TG-X316L flux-cored | 2.2 mm | Cleanroom, chemical piping, chemical distribution |
| Titanium (palladium corrosion-resistant grade) | ERTi-7 | 2.4 mm | Medical, chemical corrosion-resistant parts |
This is a general selection reference; actual alloy grade, diameter and welding parameters depend on the base metal, drawings and specifications (such as ASME, AWS or customer specs) (general case; individual cases still need their own assessment).
Why TIG for high-cleanliness welding
TIG (tungsten inert gas, also GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to strike an arc that melts the base metal, while filler rod is fed by hand or automatically into the weld pool. The pool and arc are shielded by argon (or argon-helium), keeping out oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen.
| Process | Filler source | Weld | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIG / GTAW | Separate filler rod | Smooth, slag-less, stable mechanical properties | Stainless, titanium, clean piping, pressure vessels |
| SMAW (stick) | Coated electrode | Slag to remove | Carbon steel structures, field repairs |
| MIG / GMAW | Solid wire (spool) | High deposition, for thick plate | Volume production, car bodies, structural steel |
| FCAW (flux-cored) | Flux-cored wire | Usable outdoors | Outdoor structures, bridges, shipbuilding |
Why TIG for electronics plant MRO: stainless water, gas and chemical lines in electronics plants need smooth welds (avoiding particle / crystal adsorption), no slag (no cleaning contamination risk) and even alloy composition (avoiding galvanic corrosion). TIG is a common way to meet all three, and semiconductor UHP piping and pharmaceutical GMP piping specify TIG (including automatic orbital welding).
Three rod types: how to choose
| Type | AWS specification | Base metals | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid stainless TIG rod | AWS A5.9 (ER series) | SUS304/304L/316/316L/309L and others | Stable mechanical properties; back purging when needed |
| Flux-cored stainless TIG rod | AWS A5.22 (R___T1-5 series) | SUS316L UHP tube, chemical linings, thin tube joints | Flux / alloy powder core improves root oxidation, lowers porosity, supplements alloy |
| Titanium TIG rod | AWS A5.16 (ERTi series) | Pure titanium, Ti-6Al-4V and other titanium alloys | High purity (avoid oxygen / nitrogen pickup); needs trailing shield + back argon |
Solid or flux-cored: use solid rod where the back side is accessible for shielding; use flux-cored for thin tube, closed piping or where the back can’t be reached, saving back purging. Titanium rods are almost all solid; what matters is the grade (ERTi-1 is higher purity, ERTi-5 is for Ti-6Al-4V structures; this page lists ERTi-7, the palladium corrosion-resistant grade, other grades on request).
Selection flow and practical tips
Flow: base metal (304L / 316L / duplex / titanium) → thickness (thin / thick) → service (UHP piping / structure / pressure vessel) → solid or flux-cored (back accessible → solid; closed → flux-cored) → qualification (ASME / NDT / customer spec).
- Diameter vs thickness (general case): thin sheet (≤ 2 mm) 1.6 mm; medium (2–6 mm) 2.0–2.4 mm; thick plate (≥ 6 mm) 3.2 mm (this page lists 2.0 / 2.2 / 2.4 mm; 1.6 and 3.2 mm on request). A common mistake is using a thick rod on thin sheet to save time, causing an oversized pool, burn-through or distortion.
- Clean rods: wipe off oil, fingerprints or oxide with alcohol or a stainless wire wheel before welding. Stainless rods touched by sweaty hands can cause porosity; titanium rods are even more sensitive and should be handled with latex gloves or tweezers.
- Storage after opening (general case): use titanium rods within 1 week or store under vacuum; for stainless rods, see “Storage” in the specification table.
- Mill certificates for UHP piping and pressure vessels: for semiconductor UHP piping, ASME pressure vessels and medical implants, require the maker’s mill certificate with chemical composition, mechanical properties and heat number. General industrial structures can skip this.
Common questions
Which TIG rod should I use to join stainless steel to carbon steel? ER309L, whose high Cr and Ni content suits dissimilar joints and buffer layers.
Trademarks: KOBELCO and the model names TG-S347 and TG-X316L are trademarks or model names of their owner, used here only to identify the products. JIAHON is not the authorized distributor of KOBELCO in Taiwan.
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