Corrosion-resistant alloys are a distinct category of metals and specialty alloys including Titanium, Zirconium, Tantalum, Hastelloy, High Nickel Alloys, as well as the Duplex and Super Stainless Steels.
Process equipment properly fabricated from corrosion-resistant alloys can handle extremely corrosive applications. Reducing or oxidizing environments, with or without chlorides, and temperatures up to 1200ºF, are all possible with these remarkable materials of construction. In addition to high resistance to uniform corrosion attack, corrosion resistant alloys can be very resistant to pitting, crevice and stress corrosion.
When compared with lower cost and shorter life materials like graphite or glass, the long-term cost advantages such as additional years of service and reduced cost of maintenance make process equipment made with reactive metals the more economical choice.
Applications of Titanium
Considered the workhorse of the reactive metals, more pounds of Titanium are used for corrosion resistance than all the other reactive metals combined. It is readily available with reasonable pricing.
Applications of Zirconium
More corrosion-resistant than Titanium, Zirconium is mostly used for highly reducing environments. When considering the use of other corrosion-resistant alloys, Zirconium’s effectiveness when working with hydrochloric acid rivals that of Tantalum.
Applications of Tantalum
Tantalum is the most corrosion-resistant of the reactive metals in common use today. It is inert to practically all organic and inorganic compounds. Tantalum’s corrosion resistance is very similar to glass. It is acid-proof up to around 300ºF.
Applications of Hastelloy
A registered trademark of Haynes International, Inc., the Hastelloy family of High Nickel Alloys has been proven around the world in a wide range of industries and applications with corrosion-resistant alloys.
Applications of Duplex Stainless Steel
A mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite with properties of both, Duplex Stainless Steels have roughly twice the strength compared to austenitic Stainless Steels and also improved resistance to localized corrosion.