Nov 30, 2011

High temperatures, low pH, and aggressive chemicals call for a material that exhibits the high corrosion resistance that traditional stainless steel alloys fail to attain. There are many alloys available to address the corrosion issues; but what makes super-austenitic stainless steel alloy AL-6XN® and nickel alloy C-22 the favorite materials for highly corrosive environments? Are the properties more attractive, or is the availability of the material in the required forms more desirable? Is one better than the other? Both AL-6XN and C-22 have a face-centered cubic lattice structure and contain...

Aug 23, 2011

When considering using direct-contact steam injection (DSI) for a process heating application, it is important to first understand the two basic techniques—direct and indirect transfer—used to transfer heat into fluids for process and utility heating.

Jul 5, 2011

Whether for a gasket, valve seat, or O-ring, the choice of elastomer might seem like a minor decision, but it can have a major impact. If a seal material is a poor fit for the application, you could run into any number of problems, from swelling, to peeling or cracking. Needless to say, these could be a big deal in a sanitary process. But how do you decide what elastomer to use?

Jun 14, 2011

A day, a week, a month—or maybe a year! What are your expectations? This is the most common question asked by customers regarding sanitary hose assemblies. The question itself is difficult (but not impossible) to answer due to the unique applications that vary from one facility to another. Some reasons for premature failure are...

Mar 16, 2011

The most common corrosive species that has caused failures in chemical plant is the chloride ion. Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (CSCC) can occur in hot acid chloride solutions, sodium chloride/peroxide solutions, and seawater. Other neutral halides such as bromides, iodides and fluorides can also cause SCC of the 300 series stainless steels.