8.

0 MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

8.1 General Material Philosophy

Where possible, carbon steel should be used as construction material. This is because it is the
cheapest suitable material for most chemical processes. It has a minimum operating
temperature of -29C (Wilkes, 2001) and a maximum operating temperature of 500C (All
Seals Inc., 2008). Material properties data available from (AK Steel, 2014). Carbon steel is
compatible with:

Vinyl chloride (Carson et al., 2002)
Hydrogen chloride (Carson et al., 2002)
Ethylene dichloride (Oxychem, 2012)
Chlorine as dry gas (Oxychem, 2012)
Ethylene (Carson et al., 2002)
Methylene chloride (Oxychem, 2012)
Carbon tetrachloride (Oxychem, 2012)
Chloroform (Oxychem, 2012)
Caustic soda, below 48C (Oxychem, 2013)


If carbon steel is not appropriate, the following materials should be considered, in order of
descending preference. Material properties data available from (AK Steel, 2014). Next to
each material is the maximum continuous operating temperature:

Stainless steel AISI 304L: up to 760C (All Seals Inc., 2008), suitable for
caustic solution up to 93C (Oxychem, 2013). Suitable for cryogenic
temperatures (Askzn, 2011)

Stainless steel AISI 347: up to 815C (All Seals Inc., 2008), suitable for
caustic solution up to 93C (Oxychem, 2013)

Inconel Nickel Alloy: up to 1100C, suitable for high temperature caustic
solution (All Seals Inc., 2008)

Titanium: up to 1100C, suitable for high temperature caustic solution (All
Seals Inc., 2008)

Important notes:
VCM is incompatible with copper and it alloys (Carson et al., 2002)

Chlorine and hydrogen chloride must remain as dry gases; if either mixes
with water it will become extremely corrosive (Carson et al., 2002).