Material of construction

Important considerations
Mechanical properties
Effect of high and low temperatures
Corrosion resistance
Cost?
Carbon and low alloy steels will oxidise rapidly at high temperatures and their
use is limited to temperatures below 50QC,
Chromium is the most effective alloying element to give resistance to oxidation, forming
a tenacious oxide film. Chromium alloys should be specified for equipment subject to
temperatures above 500C in oxidising atmospheres

The stainless steels are the most frequently used corrosion resistant materials in the
chemical industry.
To impart corrosion resistance the chromium content must be above 12 per cent,
and the higher the chromium content, the more resistant is the alloy to corrosion in
oxidising conditions. Nickel is added to improve the corrosion resistance in non-oxidising
environments.
Austenitic: 18-20 per cent Cr, > 7 per cent Ni,
austenitic stainless steels have greater strength than the plain carbon steels, particularly
at elevated temperatures
the austenitic stainless steels, unlike the plain
carbon steels, do not become brittle at low temperatures

Residence time calculations