Advanced Material Selection Trends in Precision Tubing and High-Performance Nickel Alloys

Chemical‍‌‍‍‌ and semiconductor facilities that require precision fluid handling systems are still heavily dependent on controlled surface finishes and corrosion-resistant metallurgy. Hence, many engineers are still referring to the use of an SS 316 EP tube as a solution in a demanding installation situation anywhere in the United States. The tubing is usually accompanied by the specification of the enhanced electropolished surfaces that reach less than 20-microinch roughness levels and thus, the stability of the flow in the chlorinated media and high-purity gas lines is improved. The project data of the recent times reveals that there is a growing preference for the 316/316L dual-certified variants, most especially in the 1/4-inch to 1-inch OD ranges, where the welding by the orbital method and the conformity to ASTM A213 or A269 are of great importance in ensuring that the thermal cycling does not compromise the integrity. Moreover, Fabricators are looking at the differences between the pickled, bright-annealed, and EP finish methods and deciding on what to do based on the microelectronics expansion zones where the threshold of ionic extractables is their main concern.

Nickel-copper alloys are still the materials of choice for the construction of offshore and desalination plants, mainly in the areas that are subjected to cavitation, alkalinity, and high-velocity brine, and where a stricter profile than the standard austenitic grades is required. The team to evaluate the shafts, pump hardware, and valve stems are the ones who are most likely to add the Monel 400 round bar in the list of new purchases for the facilities in Qatar and the selection of the dimensions between 12 mm to 200 mm is based on the predictions of the torsional load. The use of the alloy in the facilities is in line with the long-term lifecycle planning of the mixed-material assemblies, thus, it is kept there by its stability under the high-velocity seawater and its compliance with the ASME mechanical ‍‌‍‍‌properties.