NiDI Need Pert cud resis Alloy selection for caustic Pyele rea (er) ret eo ae Ree La)The material presented in this publication has been prepared for the general information of the reader and should not be used or relied on for specific applications without first securing competent advice. ‘The Nickel Development Institute, its members, staff and consultants do not represent or warrant its suitablity for any general or specific use and assume no liability or responsibilty of any kind in connection with the information herein.Alloy selection for caustic soda service by C.M. Schillmoller* Caustic soda (ie., sodium hydroxide, NaOH) and chlo- rine are co-produced by the electrolysis ofa sodium chloride solution. Both chemicals find world-wide application in the chemical and related process industries. (Alloy selection for Chlorine is discussed in the NiDI publication #10020, “Alloys to Resist Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid.”) Caustic soda ranks third in tonnage production among the inorganic chemicals; some 13.2 million tons were used in the USA alone in’ 1986. Roughly half of all caustic produced is used in the ‘manufacture of other chemicals. Another 16% is consumed by the pulp and paper industry. Other important uses are in the production of rayon, cellulose, textiles, petroleum products, soaps and the refining of Bauxite ore in the production of aluminum. CRITERIA FOR MATERIALS SELECTION A number of materials of construction may be used to produce and handle caustic solutions. Their suitability for specific applications will depend upon factors associated With the concentration and use of the caustic and the process variables involved In general, factors to be considered in materials selec tion include practicality, availability, mechanical properties, corrosion resstance, risk/benefit considerations and eco- nomics. Critical factors in caustic service include: 1. The concentration of the caustic solution, 2. The temperatures to be encountered (including pos- sible excursions) 3. The presence of other chemicals which may be present in the caustic, as contaminants or additives. 4, Tolerance limits for metallic ion contamination of the caustic itself (or of the process end-product) 5. Residual or applied tensile stresses, which may affect corrosion resistance. 66. The economics of costlife considerations. Metals and alloys most frequently considered for use in caustic soda are carbon steel, stainless steels, nickel and high-nickel alloys. Some alloys, with their generic names, common trade-names, UNS numbers and nominal com- positions are given in Table 1 Table 1 ‘Alloys commonly used in caustic soda systems | Reterence Nominal Composition, 9 AST | UNS |Most Common Mater intext” [Wr] Cr] Fe] Mo| [7 B) | Numbers | ‘Tradenames. Nickel Nickel ‘oy 200 | 99. 161-165 | 102200 | Nickel 200 Lomearbon Nickel ‘iy 201 | 99. eictes_| No2201_| Nickel 201 Nickel Copper Alloys Nickel-copper alloy ‘Alley 400 | 67 15 3i 163-165 | 1o4s00 | Monel 400 ‘Nicke-Cromiumon Alloys Nicketehwomium alloy Atoy 600 | 76 | 15] 8 169-168 | 106600. | Incone 600 Niekeliron-chromium alloy ‘Ay 600 | 32 | 21) 46 4es.407 | Noee00 | incoley” 600 Nekeron-chromium- ‘molycopper alloy Mloy 2s | a2 | 21] so] 9 | 23 163.423 | Noee25 | Incoloy* 825 Nicketiren chromium ‘molycopper alloy aey20 | 36 | 20] 39 | 25 | 39 484-468 | NoB020 | Carpenter: 20.003" ‘Siaiiess Steels ‘Chromiumnicksl stainless type 304 | 10 | 19) 72 s20400 | Type 204 Ghromiumnicketmoly staniess | Typo set | 12 | 18) 70 531003. | Type ste. Ghromium stanioss ‘Type 490 17] 83 543000 | Type 430 Ghromium-moly stains 26.4 as| 73| 4 5626-1 Titanium Tianium, grade 2 Tanium Gre +) 398 Tianium G2 "Mana acre! and Tas are Padarames othe inaratoal Mekal Ga "*Carpente’and 20 C23 are vadenames of CARTECH *Schitimoller Associates, Houston, TX; Consultant to NiDI