1. Help Center
  2. Engineered Systems

What are the different material of construction options for chemical process plants?

When it comes to building a corrosion-resistant process plant, there are many material of construction options for you to consider. For some plants, the application itself can dictate what MOCs are needed.

When looking at materials of construction for highly corrosive media your options are more limited. Depending on your operating conditions and the actual media being processed in your plant you will most probably end up with a combination of materials, including:

  • Hastelloy C-276 –A nickel-molybdenum-chromium superalloy that contains tungsten to give it excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of severe environments.
  • Inconel 600 - Typically used in high temperature applications, this material forms a thick oxide layer when heated to protect the surface from chemical attack.
  • Titanium – This alloy combines high strength with low density to provide good corrosion resistance across a range of temperatures and is advantageous in applications that benefit from weight savings (e.g. aerospace structures)
  • Tantalum – Offers outstanding resistance to aqueous solutions and metal melts with a high melting point, superconductivity, and biocompatibility.
  • Monel 400 – A nickel-copper alloy that is resistant to sea water/salt solutions and steam at high temperatures as well as caustic solutions.
  • Plastics (PFA, PP, FRP, TEFZEL) – A variety of plastic polymers can be used to provide extended service in hostile environments, offering excellent mechanical stress resistance as well as stability at a wide range of temperatures.
  • Glass – Available as Borosilicate 3.3 glass (i.e. QVF SUPRA-Line) and glass-lined steel.