Material Selection Guide
An offshore platform can have nearly 50,000 feet of tubing, more than 20,000 fluid system components, no fewer than 10,000 fittings, and as many as 8,000 mechanical connections.
No wonder choosing one material isn’t easy. In fact, there are many considerations when specifying materials for instrumentation lines, hydraulic power, chemical injection, deluge systems, and much more.
That’s where Swagelok can help. We’ve been fighting corrosion since 1947. We simplify selection with our deep understanding of factors that contribute to corrosion, as well as the properties of materials that help fight it. We use alloys with at least two, but often up to ten different elements in optimized concentrations which give our materials superior corrosion resistance that helps our products perform better.
For instance:
Nickel [Ni] + Copper [Cu] = Alloy 400 (Monel®)
Iron [Fe] + Nickel [Ni] + Chromium [Cr] + Molybdenum [Mo] = 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel
With stringent quality control measures, expert-led instruction, and authorized sales and service center support, Swagelok offers unmatched expertise in the world’s toughest environments. We make material selection a matter of confidence for our customers.
> View and download a print-friendly version of the Materials Selection Guide
What is Corrosion?
Just about every metal corrodes under certain conditions.
Corrosion is the physical degradation of a material due to interactions with its environment. Corrosion occurs when a metal atom is oxidized by a fluid, leading to a loss of material in the metal surface. This loss reduces the wall thickness of a component and makes it more prone to mechanical failure.
Material Matters
Rust is a commonly occurring byproduct of corrosion, resulting from iron corroding and forming iron oxide. Many other types of corrosion exist, however. Each type poses a threat that must be evaluated when selecting the optimal material for your application.
Take these steps to reduce the impact of corrosion on your applications:
- Identify types of corrosion - what it looks like, where it occurs, and why it happens
- Select materials resistant to corrosion
- Minimize locations where crevice corrosion can occur
- Avoid the contact of dissimilar metals, which can cause galvanic corrosion
- Specify everything from the supports and clamps to the tubing itself to reduce the potential for corrosion
- Understand requirements and standards
- Learn more through training
Identifying Types of Corrosion
Finding a proper materials solution means starting at the source of the problem.
An offshore platform can have nearly 50,000 feet of tubing, more than 20,000 fluid system components, no fewer than 10,000 fittings, and as many as 8,000 mechanical connections.
No wonder choosing one material isn’t easy. In fact, there are many considerations when specifying materials for instrumentation lines, hydraulic power, chemical injection, deluge systems, and much more.
That’s where Swagelok can help. We’ve been fighting corrosion since 1947. We simplify selection with our deep understanding of factors that contribute to corrosion, as well as the properties of materials that help fight it. We use alloys with at least two, but often up to ten different elements in optimized concentrations which give our materials superior corrosion resistance that helps our products perform better.
For instance:
Nickel [Ni] + Copper [Cu] = Alloy 400 (Monel®)
Iron [Fe] + Nickel [Ni] + Chromium [Cr] + Molybdenum [Mo] = 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel
With stringent quality control measures, expert-led instruction, and authorized sales and service center support, Swagelok offers unmatched expertise in the world’s toughest environments. We make material selection a matter of confidence for our customers.
> View and download a print-friendly version of the Materials Selection Guide
What is Corrosion?
Just about every metal corrodes under certain conditions.
Corrosion is the physical degradation of a material due to interactions with its environment. Corrosion occurs when a metal atom is oxidized by a fluid, leading to a loss of material in the metal surface. This loss reduces the wall thickness of a component and makes it more prone to mechanical failure.
Material Matters
Rust is a commonly occurring byproduct of corrosion, resulting from iron corroding and forming iron oxide. Many other types of corrosion exist, however. Each type poses a threat that must be evaluated when selecting the optimal material for your application.
Take these steps to reduce the impact of corrosion on your applications:
- Identify types of corrosion - what it looks like, where it occurs, and why it happens
- Select materials resistant to corrosion
- Minimize locations where crevice corrosion can occur
- Avoid the contact of dissimilar metals, which can cause galvanic corrosion
- Specify everything from the supports and clamps to the tubing itself to reduce the potential for corrosion
- Understand requirements and standards
- Learn more through training
Identifying Types of Corrosion
Finding a proper materials solution means starting at the source of the problem.