Two types of 316 butt welds with carbon contents of 0.016% and 0.062% have been produced using the gas tungsten arc welding process.The δ-ferrite content decreased from 7.2 to 2.8% in volume as the carbon content increased.The creep-rupture strength and creep ductility of the two types of weld metals have been measured at 550 ℃ over the stress range of 290-316 MPa and at 600 ℃ over 230-265 MPa.The microstructure change and precipitation behavior of the weld metals were observed and related to the creep rupture properties.The creep rupture strength of the C2 (0.062% C) weld metal was higher than that of the C1 (0.016% C) weld metal at both 550 ℃ and 600 ℃.At 550 ℃,as the decrease in the applied stress,the difference of the creep-rupture life between the two weld metals diminished due to the higher depletion rate of carbon by precipitation of M23C6 in the C2 weld metal,while at 600 ℃,the difference enlarged due to the massive precipitation of σ phase and extensive crack formation and propagation along σ/austenite boundaries in the C1 weld metal.For both the C1 and C2 weld metal,the decrease in ductility was adverse with the transformation percentage and related to products of the δ-ferrite transformation.