Throughout the process industries, Zirconium Pressure Vessels are praised as very cost effective methods of resisting damaging corrosive leaks in process. TITAN Metal Fabricators specializes in the crafting equipment of the corrosion resistant reactive metals, and is well known for Zirconium Vessel manufacture.

The following information is provided as background on Zirconium, the alloy’s characteristics, its strengths and how consideration of a Zirconium Pressure Vessel may be the answer to corrosion in your application.

Zirconium the Metal

Zirconium is the most corrosion resistant metal in common use today. It is inert to practically all organic and inorganic compounds. It has good thermal conductivity and erosion resistance. It forms easily, is highly workable and weldable, and an ideal material for corrosion resistant Zirconium Vessel fabrication.

Please see TITAN’s Zirconium application page for additional Zirconium uses, some comparative corrosion resistance data including media, concentrations and temperatures.

Our technical resource section also has a complete section on properties and corrosion resistance.

Benefits of Zirconium Pressure Vessels

Zirconium Vessels should be considered for any application where corrosion is a factor and the long term benefits of reduced downtime, increased life expectancy and profitability are important.

Zirconium may solve many of the problems inherent in many other materials of construction. It is not brittle and will not crack.

Zirconium Vessels feature fully-welded designs and will not leak like lesser materials.

Zirconium Vessels:

  • Are cost competitive
  • Eliminate of downtime due to equipment failure
  • Provide superior corrosion resistance
  • Accommodate high steam pressures
  • Fully welded metal designs
  • Eliminate process leaks

Typically, as plants are designed, some facilities recognize the superior corrosion resistance potential of Zirconium. This allows an increase in their process temperature and pressure to within Zirconium’s capabilities. This allows for tremendous improvements in their process reaction efficiencies, plant throughput and profitability.   Zirconium Vessels can handle the increased corrosion potential.

Please see the chart for typical mils of corrosion of various materials in hostile environments.

Zirconium Vessel Designs

TITAN’s Zirconium Vessels are found in a wide variety of environments, across industries including chemical, petrochemical, steel and pharmaceutical applications. All pressure equipment codes such as the ASME, PED EN-13445, Chinese and the TUV can be met and stamped as required.

Zirconium Vessels can be combined with fiberglass, PTFE lined, glass-lined carbon steel or Zirconium- lined carbon steel.

Zirconium can also be explosive clad to carbon steel to form a bimetallic material of construction.

Designs can include some or all of the following:

  • Large diameter
  • Explosive clad
  • Standard Jacket
  • Half Pipe Jacket
  • Agitators
  • Drives
  • Baffles
  • Outlet Valves
  • Diptubes

Zirconium is typically fully resistant to corrosion in these chemical environments*:

  • Acetic Acid
  • Acetic Anhydride
  • Aluminum Chloride
  • Ammonium Sulfate
  • Aniline Hydrochloride
  • Barium Chloride
  • Calcium Chloride
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Chloroacetic Acid
  • Citric Acid
  • Formic Acid
  • Hydrochloric Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Lactic Acid
  • Magnesium Chloride
  • Mercuric Chloride
  • Nitric Acid
  • Phosphoric Acid
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Stannic Chloride
  • Sulfuric Acid
  • Tannic Acid
  • Zinc Chloride

*Note: Final selection of material must be based on actual evaluation of the metal in the corrosive medium under study.

For a general guide on corrosion resistance, temperatures and concentrations please see TITAN’s publication Corrosion Resistance of Metals in Various Chemical Media for additional information.*

*Please Note: Final selection of material must be based on actual evaluation of the metal in the corrosive medium under study.