Feb 4, 2011

Question: If I purchase AL-6XN alloy (N08367) tubing or fittings to the ASTM A270-S2 specification, will they meet the low sulfur requirements? Many end users in pharmaceutical industry require the ASTM A270-S2 (pharmaceutical quality) tubing for their application. However, sulfur requirements are commonly misunderstood, and the ASTM A270 specification covers...

Sep 22, 2010

1. When the product is corrosive to the piping system. Products containing chlorides and other salts can attack the tubing and fittings used to transport the products throughout a plant. Systems fabricated from 304 or 316 stainless steel can become leaky after prolonged contact with salty food and beverages, e.g. sports drinks and soy sauces. If the product is...

Sep 17, 2010

Unexpected or premature failure of chemical process equipment constitutes a serious hazard in terms of personnel, plant, and environmental safety. By weakening reliability, such failures also adversely affect productivity and profitability. Modern experience in chemical plants has been that failures due to environmental cracking are among the most serious of such problems, making up about 20 to 30% of all corrosion failures. The purpose of this article is to discuss in simple terms some of the pertinent information.

Aug 26, 2010

An MTR (Material Test Report, or Mill Test Report) is a quality assurance document that lists the chemical composition of a particular material, which is identified by a heat number. It also contains information such as mechanical properties like strength, elongation, hardness and other applicable industry standards. MTRs are typically required for all tube, fittings, and components to be used in high purity systems.

Aug 13, 2010

Question: Which welding filler wire should we use when TIG welding AL-6XN tubing and fittings? Answer: Use C-22 weld insert rings. Do not attempt to apply filler wire manually. What’s the difference between filler wire and insert rings? Why does it matter? Literature from Allegheny Ludlum recommends using filler wire. As stated on...

Jul 20, 2010

If you’ve ever heard what sounds like gravel running through your pump, you’ve probably experienced the problems that come from cavitation. Cavitation, the formation and implosion of bubbles inside the pump head, causes more than just an obnoxious noise.  Those tiny bubbles can result in thousands of dollars in repairs due to pitting on the impeller and...